In a twist to the 2024 presidential race, former President Donald Trump has joined forces with a surprising ally for his upcoming debate preparations against Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump has enlisted former Democrat congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a move that continues to signal a strategic shift in his campaign approach.

Gabbard, who famously clashed with Harris during the 2019 Democratic presidential primary debates, is known for her critical stance on the Democrat Party, from which she distanced herself after her 2020 presidential bid. Her appearance alongside Trump at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence is a significant collaboration.

According to The New York Times, Trump’s decision to bring Gabbard on board was influenced by her memorable performance in the CNN debate, where she sharply criticized Harris’s record as a prosecutor in California. During the 2019 Democrat debate confrontation, Gabbard accused Kamala Harris of contributing to the systemic failures of the criminal justice system, criticisms she is likely to reiterate as she helps Trump prepare. Gabbard’s critique left a lasting impression that Trump hopes to channel as he faces off against the vice president.

“Senator Harris says she’s proud of her record as a prosecutor and that she’ll be a prosecutor president, but I’m deeply concerned about this record,” Gabbard said during the debate. “There are too many examples to cite, but she put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana.”

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“She blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts forced her to do so,” she continued. “She kept people in prison beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California and she fought to keep cash bail system in place that impacts poor people in the worst kind of way.”

In an email, Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed Gabbard’s participation to the Times. Leavitt said [Trump] has “proven to be one of the best debaters in political history as evidenced by his knockout blow to Joe Biden. He does not need traditional debate prep but will continue to meet with respected policy advisers and effective communicators like Tulsi Gabbard, who successfully dominated Kamala Harris on the debate stage in 2020.”

Trump’s incorporation of Gabbard into the debate prep not only revitalizes his campaign narrative but also injects an element of unpredictability into the upcoming debates. On Thursday, the Harris campaign announced its commitment to three debates this election cycle: two at the presidential level and one vice presidential debate.

This year, Trump has dedicated more time to debate preparation than he did in both 2016 and 2020. In his lead-up to the June 27 CNN debate, no one played the role of Joe Biden during his sessions. Instead, Trump engaged in lengthy discussions with advisers during plane trips or more structured meetings at Mar-a-Lago. In these sessions, aides took on the role of moderators, sitting across from him and posing questions. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) reportedly asked particularly challenging questions. Other lawmakers, including his running mate Senator JD Vance (R-OH), also joined Trump to discuss policy matters.

Gabbard’s alignment with Trump, while surprising to some, aligns with her recent endeavors to carve out a niche within conservative circles, often appearing as a guest on various conservative media platforms. The alliance may also be seen as a tactical maneuver to consolidate a base that resonates with Gabbard’s anti-establishment rhetoric, drawing in voters who are disillusioned with traditional party politics. Trump’s campaign has not shied away from leveraging such dynamics in the past, painting Harris and the current administration as out of touch with the foundational issues facing Americans.