Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard have officially joined former President Donald Trump’s transition team according to MSNBC.
The Trump campaign asserts that this addition demonstrates the formation of a "broad coalition" that crosses partisan lines in a bid to pick up centrist Democrat voters.
Kennedy and Gabbard, both known for their idiosyncratic views, have previously garnered support from the political right as well as centrist Democrats bringing a lot of value to the Trump team.
While the Trump campaign touts this as evidence of their ability to attract diverse voices, mainstream leftists are already poo-pooing the move.
Historically, both major parties in the U.S. have attempted to showcase their ability to reach across the aisle.
During the Democratic National Convention, Democrats brought in establishment Republicans like Adam Kinzinger and Geoff Duncan to appeal to centrist Republicans.
Kinzinger, an establishment Republican who has been a vocal critic of Trump, represents the kind of candidate that could have swayed centrist votes to the left among the never-Trump crowd.
In contrast, Kennedy and Gabbard’s support for Trump will appeal to Democrat voters who have grown disillusioned with the DNC and the rank corruption.
Kennedy and Gabbard have long been at odds with mainstream Democratic views and this has earned them cult followings that Trump is going to tap into.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman from Hawaii, has a history of controversial foreign policy positions.
She has been criticized for her praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strategy in Syria and for her vocal opposition to President Obama’s policies in the region.
Gabbard’s performance in the 2020 Democratic primaries was predictably lackluster as expected following her attacks on Obama but it earned her fans among anti-war leftists.
Her shift from Democratic contender to centrist critic positions her as a perfect figure for Trump to bring in to point out as an example of how his campaign is uniting different factions.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite his iconic surname, has also emerged as a critic of the radical Democrat Party and is positioning himself as a traditional Democrat to appeal to the smaller segment of less radical Democrats.
Kennedy’s stance on public health has placed him at odds with the Democrat Party but like Gabbard it's increased his standing among Democrats who have long opposed government bureaucracy in health and food.
Kennedy garnered notable support in Democratic primaries, though his independent run eventually drew more favor from Republican voters than Democrats.
Kennedy’s influence within the Republican base is uncertain, especially given his extreme views and the controversy surrounding his statements.
His recent comments, including the baseless claim that Covid-19 was "targeted" to spare Chinese people and Jews, have further alienated him from mainstream political discourse.
The Trump campaign may see some marginal benefits from Kennedy and Gabbard’s support, particularly among voters who are more in the center and frustrated with the stagnancy and corruption of the Democrat Party.
However, a big issue will be the Democrat election schemes that they are using in multiple states.
Kennedy’s name will still appear on ballots in key swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan thanks to Democrat officials who have seen a massive opportunity to game the election.
This poses a potential risk to Trump’s vote share in these states, where independent voters could be swayed by Kennedy’s presence on the ballot, drawing votes away from the Republican ticket.
