Former President Trump is bringing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard onto his presidential transition team
Former President Donald Trump has expanded his presidential transition team by adding former campaign rival Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Democratic Representative Tulsi Gabbard, a spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
Both Kennedy and Gabbard publicly endorsed Trump over the past week in his contest against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate.
"As President Trump’s coalition of supporters and endorsers continues to grow across party lines, we are excited to announce that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have joined the Trump/Vance Transition team," stated Trump campaign senior advisor Brian Hughes in a press release to CNBC.
"We are eager to have their influential voices on board as we work to restore America’s greatness," Hughes added.
The transition team would handle personnel and policy decisions if Trump wins against Harris in the November 5 presidential election. The New York Times was the first to report that Trump planned to enlist Kennedy and Gabbard for the team.
Kennedy suspended his independent presidential bid last Friday. Gabbard, who previously ran in the 2020 Democratic primary and left the party in 2022, has reportedly been assisting Trump in preparation for a debate with Harris.
RFK Jr.'s recent support for Trump follows a period earlier in the campaign where the two had harshly criticized each other. Trump had called Kennedy a "Radical Left Lunatic," while Kennedy labeled Trump "unhinged."
It is currently unclear what exact roles Kennedy and Gabbard will assume within the transition team.
In a recent interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Kennedy revealed, "I’ve been asked to help with the transition team, helping to choose the people who will lead the government, and I’m looking forward to that."
Gabbard has not yet responded to requests for comment from CNBC.
The two new members will join a transition team that already includes Trump’s sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, as well as his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
On Tuesday, Vance expressed that he would like to see Kennedy play a role in advising Trump on personnel decisions for the administration.