Former Democratic Congresswoman Joins Fox News

Tulsi Gabbard is joining FOX News as a paid tributor. The former congresswoman recently announced that she has left the Democratic party. Since her transition, she has emerged as a leading critic of liberals, campaigning with several Trump-backed Republicans during the recent midterm elections cycle. Deadline reports that the LA Times was the first to confirm the hire. Gabbard filled in for Tucker Carlson on his primetime show on Monday evenings. She's also contributed to other Fox News programming. In June, she appeared on a panel on FOX's afternoon table talk program The Five and occupied its seat that is typically reserved for Democrats and liberals. Before switching parties, she ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2020 cycle, forgoing a run for reelection for a Hawaii congressional seat. She's hasn't been shy of her criticism of the part, alleging it's "an elitist cabal of warmongers." 

In Oct. 2022, Sean Hannity pressed her on whether she supports aid to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion last year. Gabbard also met with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in 2017, which drew criticism due to the U.S. having no diplomatic relations with the leader, who other lawmakers called a war criminal.

Gabbard has a podcast in which she has shared right-wing talking points on "woke"-ism and cancel culture. She also backed several Republican candidates in the recent midterms, including Kari Lake, who lost her gubernatorial bid in Arizona.

An Army reserve officer, Gabbard was first elected to the U.S. House in 2012. She's previously served on the Honolulu City Council and the state House of Representatives.