Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, has endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump in the US presidential election.

Gabbard, who served in the military in Iraq, ran for president in the 2020 Democratic primary. She left the party two years later and has become a fixture at conservative conferences and in right-wing media.

Speaking at a National Guard Association conference in Detroit, Michigan, where Trump also spoke, Gabbard said: “This administration is ensuring that we are facing multiple wars on multiple fronts in regions around the world and are closer to the brink of nuclear war than ever before.

“This is one of the most important reasons why I am committed to doing everything I can to return President Trump to the White House, where he can once again serve us as our commander in chief. Because I am confident that his first task will be to do the work of leading us back from the brink of war.“

Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in Congress and is a former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, accused Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris of seeking revenge against political opponents, undermining civil liberties and using American institutions as a weapon against both Trump and herself.

““We as Americans must work together to reject this anti-freedom culture of political retaliation and abuse of power,” she added.

Gabbard’s announcement comes a day after Democratic dynasty scion Robert F Kennedy Jr suspended his own White House bid and threw his weight behind Trump. Elon Musk, who describes himself as “historically a moderate Democrat”, has also thrown his weight behind the former president.

Trump, who has portrayed Harris as a left-wing extremist, told the crowd on Monday: “This fight is no longer between Democrats and Republicans. This is a fight between communism and freedom.

“It’s a very serious fight. That’s why millions of traditional Democrats, including FDR Democrats, JFK Democrats, independents and old-school liberals are joining our movement. Our polls are great.“

Trump admitted he was unaware that Gabbard had served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army. ““She’s a special person,” he added. “She has a great common sense, a great spirit. She loves our country and she loves the people in this room.”

Gabbard has recently been helping Trump prepare for next month’s televised presidential debate against Harris. In 2020, she took Harris to task on the debate stage for her record as a prosecutor — a snippet that still circulates in right-wing media.

Trump, who laid wreaths earlier at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, marked the third anniversary of a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. “The humiliation in Afghanistan destroyed American credibility and respect around the world,” he said in Detroit, seeking to blame Harris and Joe Biden for the deaths.

In her own statement marking the anniversary of the attack on Kabul airport, Harris said she mourns the 13 service members who died. “My prayers are with their families and loved ones,” she added. “My heart breaks for their pain and loss.”