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Tulsi Gabbard, former Democratic candidate for president, joins Republican party at Trump rally

Tulsi Gabbard, former Democratic candidate for president, joins Republican party at Trump rally

Former Democratic candidate for president and independent Tulsi Gabbard formally announced she is joining the Republican Party at a Trump rally on Tuesday. The rally was held in Greensboro, North Carolina, a key swing state in the upcoming election. Gabbard recently joined the Trump campaign as an honorary co-chair for the former president’s transition team alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr., another former Democrat. TULSI GABBARD SAYS SHE WOULD BE ‘HONORED’ TO JOIN A POTENTIAL TRUMP ADMINISTRATION Gabbard cited her admiration for President Trump’s leadership “to transform the Republican Party and bring it back to the party of the people and the party of peace” in part for her decision. “I’m proud to stand here with you today, President Trump, and announce that I’m joining the Republican Party. I am joining the party of the people,” said Gabbard. “The party of equality. The party that was founded to fight against and end slavery in this country. It is the party of common sense and the party that is led by a president who has the courage and strength to fight for peace,” added Gabbard. “Thank you very much, Tulsi. That’s great. Wow, that was a surprise,” said Trump. “That was really, she’s been independent for a long time. That’s a great thing. A great honor. Thank you very much, Tulsi.” FORMER DEMOCRAT TULSI GABBARD ENDORSES TRUMP IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE Tulsi Gabbard served as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 through 2016 before resigning to officially endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) for president. Gabbard, who ran in 2020’s presidential election as a Democrat, took on then-candidate Kamala Harris with force at a primary debate, tearing apart her career as a prosecutor and California attorney general. At the time, Gabbard called out Harris’ for prosecuting numerous marijuana-related cases to convictions and her impact on the cash bail system in California. Ultimately, Gabbard left the Democrat party in 2022, declaring herself an independent. In the time since, she has started her own podcast and spoken at conservative events.  Gabbard represented Hawaii’s Second District in Congress from 2013 through 2021 as a Democrat. She serves in the U.S. Army Reserves with the rank of lieutenant colonel. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Representatives for Tulsi Gabbard did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

DeSantis campaigns against high-stakes abortion measure on Florida ballot: ‘Bait and switch’ legislation

DeSantis campaigns against high-stakes abortion measure on Florida ballot: ‘Bait and switch’ legislation

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis lasered in on the high-stakes abortion amendment on the ballot for voters in the Sunshine State, calling the measure a “bait and switch.” Amendment 4, which would end Florida’s six-week abortion ban by enshrining abortion in the state’s constitution, has been a pressure-point as Election Day nears.  On Tuesday, DeSantis held a press conference at the Grove Bible Chapel in Winter Garden, called “Doctors Against Amendment 4,” to urge voters to vote “No” on the abortion amendment. The governor was joined by nearly a dozen doctors against the amendment. “When people actually peel back the onion and see what this amendment is, they don’t like it,” he said. “And it loses a lot of support.” DESANTIS ADMIN BLOCKED FROM THREATENING TV STATION OVER PRO-ABORTION ADS DeSantis put the amendment on blast, condemning the legislation’s “vague language,” noting it could be read to allow elective abortion throughout a woman’s pregnancy as deemed necessary by employees of abortion clinics, rather than solely doctors.  “It’s interesting because it’s written with no definitions,” he said. “It’s intentionally vague and deceptive… All they’re doing is lying about Florida policies and laws about respecting life, both the life of the mother and the health of the mother, of course, but also the life of the child.” The amendment also does not define viability, typically understood to be around 20 to 25 weeks, DeSantis said. DeSantis also said that the amendment does not define “health care provider.” “[Amendment 4] It says that an abortion can be greenlit all the way to the moment of birth by a ‘health care provider’,” he said. “That’s the term that they used. Well, a health care provider is not the same as a licensed physician.” “Florida law has always required that licensed physicians be the ones to be involved in performing these procedures. Some of them are very, very high risk. Sometimes there are a lot of complications that can happen,” he said. “So you will have nonmedical doctors doing this.  “I don’t know that there’s any other state that has ever gone down that road.” TRUMP’S FLORIDA ALLIES OPPOSE ABORTION AMENDMENT AS FORMER PRESIDENT DECIDES HOW TO VOTE DeSantis said that another concern brought by the amendment is its language regarding minors getting abortions.  The text says that the amendment would not change the legislature’s ability to require parents to be notified about a minor’s abortion. However, it leaves out the legislature’s authority to require parental consent for such a procedure. DeSantis has criticized the proposed amendment as a “bait and switch” when it comes to parental rights.  “This amendment, if adopted, would be the first amendment in the history of the state of Florida to actually repeal a right. It will repeal the right of a parent to have to provide consent before their child undergoes an abortion,” he said. “Right now in Florida, we have parental consent, not just for abortion, but for anything involving medical treatment for a minor. They can’t give your kid an aspirin unless you consent.” “And that’s the way it should be for parents. And yet, this amendment would permanently take this one issue and say the parents do not have the right to be in that decision-making process or to provide consent.” DeSantis pointed to the difference between parental notification and parental consent. “What this amendment does, it gives a little bait and switch. The legislature says it requires parental notification, but that’s not the same as consent,” he said. “Notification can be sent via a postcard.” “The parent knows this is happening, but the parent can’t stop it,” DeSantis said. “The parent doesn’t have the authorization and is not required to provide authorization. So it is repealing the right of a parent to provide consent for the minor.” Florida is one of the nine states with a measure on the Nov. 5 ballot to protect access to abortion. In Florida, the hot-button issue has been the most expensive – with about $150 million in ads, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact. The amendment’s language states, “No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider.” Former President Trump has shifted his stance on abortion during the election cycle, with the Republican nominee hoping to attract independents and some disillusioned Democrats, but running the risk of alienating his pro-life base. Trump has countered Democratic attacks on the former president’s abortion stance by stating he would leave abortion access to the states, as determined by the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Trump notably opposes a federal abortion ban, but has remained opposed to late-term abortions. In July, the Republican Party abandoned its long-standing position of advocating for abortions.  Throughout Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, she has argued that Trump — who nominated three conservative justices to the Supreme Court who later voted to overturn Roe v. Wade — is responsible for worsening medical care for women and that he would seek further restrictions. Harris has cast her position on the topic as creating legislation to restore the national abortion right that was eliminated following Roe v. Wade.  She has also vowed to protect access to the abortion drug mifepristone, calling the drug “essential medication.” Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Biden calls for Trump to be ‘politically’ locked up at New Hampshire event

Biden calls for Trump to be ‘politically’ locked up at New Hampshire event

President Biden on Tuesday called for his predecessor to be “politically” locked up during an event in New Hampshire’s capital, a phrase similar to former President Trump’s 2016 call to imprison Hillary Clinton, then his Democratic opponent.  Biden was in Concord to tout his health care and prescription drug cost legislation when he said Trump wants to eliminate his political adversaries and detractors.  “He thinks he has a version of the Supreme Court ruling on immunity to be able to, if need be, if it was the case, to actually eliminate, physically eliminate, shoot, kill someone who is, he believes to be a threat to him,” Biden told his supporters.  A TRUMP MYSTERY MAKES ELECTION OUTCOME EVEN MURKIER “I know this sounds bizarre. It sounds like if I said this five years ago, you’d lock me up,” he added. “We got to lock him up. Politically lock him up. Lock him out. That’s what we have to do.” Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly warned voters that Trump poses a threat to democracy. Trump’s supporters have blamed similar rhetoric for the two failed assassination attempts on his life. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Trump campaign.  HARRIS SUPPORT FOR EVS COULD TANK CAMPAIGN IN CRITICAL SWING STATE, EXPERT SAYS Biden’s remarks were similar to Trump’s often-repeated plea during his 2016 campaign against Clinton to imprison her.  “Lock her up! Lock her up!” chants became commonplace at Trump rallies. Biden also said that Trump-supporting Republicans have anti-democratic attitudes.  “We’re dealing with a totally different breed of cat now,” he said. “That was— the civil rights era was terrible. But we got a group now that is just literally, and I’m not one that is prone to hyperbole, but we have a a group running the MAGA Republicans who are have an anti-democratic attitude toward the way the Constitution functions.”

Lloyd Austin warns against isolationism and insists Ukraine absolutely can win war against Russia

Lloyd Austin warns against isolationism and insists Ukraine absolutely can win war against Russia

EXCLUSIVE: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin defended U.S. restrictions on long-range missiles in Ukraine and insisted the war-ravaged nation “absolutely” can defeat Russia even without such capabilities in an interview with Fox News.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the U.S. this month to present his “victory plan,” a key provision of which was lifting restrictions on ATACMS and other U.S.-provided long-range missiles to strike military targets inside Russia.  Ukraine claimed the long-range missiles could thwart Russia’s deadly glide bombs, and many U.S. lawmakers turned up the pressure on President Biden to unleash the long-range missile capability. “Isn’t this just extending the war by not giving them those permissions?” Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin asked Austin, while in Rome.  Austin said Russia had already moved the aircraft it uses for glide bombs out of ATACMS range, 300 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.  “I think they have the ability to continue to conduct long range strikes, and they will,” Austin reasoned, “Ukraine has a lot of capability that we provided in terms of drones.” “They also have the ability to produce their own drones right now. They’re highly effective. As a matter of fact, we’ve seen them conduct attacks or operations that are some 400 kilometers beyond … the border and even further.” AUSTIN WARNS ‘NO SILVER BULLET’ TO DEFEAT PUTIN AS US AID HANGS IN BALANCE AHEAD OF ELECTIONS Austin insisted he and his military counterparts are working to develop a plan of action to implement Zelenskyy’s “victory plan.”  “You know, we’ve said all along that Ukraine will be a part of NATO at some point in the future. … We’re really developing an action plan … to support President Zelenskyy’s strategic plan.”  In the wide-ranging interview, Austin admitted that he is “of course” concerned about the growing trend of isolationism in the U.S. “We are a global power. We have interests all around the globe, and we’re going to need to continue to do what’s necessary to protect those interests,” said Austin. “There’s no question in my mind that if Putin is successful, he will continue to do what he’s done. And, of course, all of the Baltic states are very concerned about, about that they rightfully feel that they would be next on the menu.” And as the conflict barrels toward the three-year mark in February, Austin said he believes Ukraine can win and offered his definition of victory.  “Ukraine absolutely can win,” said Austin. “And we define winning as Ukraine being a sovereign state that can defend its territory and deter aggression in the future.” The defense secretary did not define whether that meant Ukrainian territory should be defined by its pre-2022 borders, whether it should include the Crimea region Russia annexed in 2014 or whether Ukraine would give up territory Russia has captured in exchange for peace.  ZELENSKYY VICTORY PLAN: REPLACE US TROOPS AT OUTPOSTS IN EUROPE WITH BATTLE-HARDENED UKRAINIANS As some Republicans grumble about the $100 billion worth of resources the U.S. has offered Ukraine, Austin insisted aid to Ukraine has not affected U.S. readiness and provides jobs in the U.S.  “Every grenade that we take out of our inventory, that’s got to be replaced by something else. Either that type of munition or something better. Now, every time that we draw capability of our inventory and we replace it with something, and those munitions, those weapons are made in the United States of America. And that means good jobs for people in a number of states in this country. And I think this is an investment that we actually benefit from. “We do not send cash over to Ukraine. We draw down equipment, whether it be vehicles or weapons or munitions, and replace those weapons or munitions with something that’s probably a little bit more modern and more effective.” Austin’s comments come as Ukrainian defense chief Kyrylo Budanov announced that some 11,000 North Korean troops are in Russia and will be ready to fight Ukraine by Nov. 1. “Our intelligence analysts are really looking hard at this,” said Austin. “If this is true, this is very concerning, and if it is true, it speaks to the point that Putin must be weakened to a greater extent than most people think.” South Korea’s spy agency said last week it had confirmed that North Korea sent 1,500 special operation forces to Russia this month. Both North Korea and Russia have denied the movements. Austin also responded to concerns that European NATO members are not paying their fair share of aid to Ukraine. “They’re contributing a lot … I convene a group every month. It consists of 50 countries from around the world. … And that group has together contributed some $51 billion of direct security assistance to Ukraine. Germany has committed $31 billion worth of security assistance. And I think that’s remarkable. And there are some smaller countries as a percentage of GDP that have contributed more than the United States.”