Takeaways from RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard stumping for Donald Trump in liberal Madison

MADISON – In a town hall-style event Tuesday night, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sought to sway undecided voters a Wisconsin Democratic stronghold.

The two spoke at a Trump Unity Event at the Alliant Energy Center, along with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Senate hopeful Eric Hovde promoting former President Donald Trump's campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris.

Setema Gali, who played for the New England Patriots as a defensive end and now is a speaker and trainer, hosted the session with Gabbard and Kennedy.

Here's what you should know about the visit.

RFK Jr. addresses Supreme Court decision to keep him on the ballot

Kennedy, who suspended his independent campaign for president and endorsed Trump, said the U.S. Supreme Court decision Tuesday keeping his name on the presidential ballots in Wisconsin and Michigan should be seen as "election interference."

"They want me on the ballot to trick people into voting for me instead of voting for President Trump, and what I'm saying to you is, do not fall for that," he said. "I want I don't want your vote. I want you to vote for Donald Trump."

Kennedy appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court after Wisconsin's highest court blocked his efforts to have his name removed from the ballot. Nearly 1 million votes have been returned to election clerks in Wisconsin already under the state's early voting rules.

RFK Jr. says Democrats left him behind

Kennedy, who hails from one of the country's most famous Democratic political families, blasted Democrats for being an "establishment" party.

"Today it's the party of division," he said. "It's the party of censorship and surveillance."

He said Democrats were once the party of peace and ensured everybody got an equal vote in elections to make their voices heard on issues important to them.

"Today, it's the party that's making sure that we only get to vote for the candidates they choose," he said. "I could go on and on, but, but it's not the Democratic Party that I was raised with anymore."

Tulsi Gabbard justifies her switch to support for Trump after running as a Democrat in 2020

Gabbard asked the crowd how many used to be or still considered themselves Democrats, which generated a few raised hands in the crowd. She then justified her switch to support Trump earlier this year, after running for president as a Democrat in 2020.

"There's an understanding that we're not going to agree on everything. My husband and I don't agree on everything," she said of backing Trump. "But the point is, we are gathered together and standing together because we're motivated by the most powerful force that exists, and that is love."

She said the Republican Party is one motivated by "love for God, love for our country and love for each other as Americans."

"This is our moment to have the courage to stand up and fight for what is right," she said.

She also addressed the rally Trump held in New York Sunday, which some have likened to a neo-Nazi rally also held at Madison Square Garden decades ago.

"For those of us who were there, really saw nothing but joy in that crowd," he said. "And we saw people of every single race."

Gabbard, RFK Jr. attempt to sway undecided voters for Trump

Gabbard and Kennedy attempted to make the case to undecided voters that Trump was the right choice.

"We are only powerful if we use that power. Our voices will only be heard if we use them, if we exercise them, and so this is our no-fail mission to save our country," Gabbard said. "To save the world, to defend freedom and get us back on that path towards peace, freedom and prosperity for all Americans."

At the end of the event, Gabbard said she'd been told to not go to Madison, which is known as a deep blue city, and overwhelmingly voted for President Joe Biden in 2020.

"We are ignoring them, naturally," she said to cheers. "Because we believe in the spirit of the American people, we believe in our appreciation for freedom and peace and prosperity."

Democrats say Trump campaigning with 'conspiracy theorists'

In a statement, Kristi Johnson, Wisconsin Democratic coordinated campaign rapid response director, highlighted Republicans in Wisconsin have announced plans to vote for Harris because of Trump's rhetoric.

“While Trump is campaigning with conspiracy theorists and is focused on his ‘enemies list,’ Vice President Harris is focused on her ‘to-do list’ to deliver lower costs and more opportunity for Wisconsinites and their families," she said. "That’s exactly why more and more Republicans – including Green Bay’s state Senator Robert Cowles, Waukesha Mayor Shawn Reilly, and former Dane County state Senator Barbara Lorman – are recognizing the danger of a second Trump term and are urging their fellow conservatives to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.”

Laura Schulte can be reached at [email protected] and on X at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Takeaways from RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard stumping for Trump in Madison