The Republican Party of Arizona (AZGOP) released a new billboard design on Thursday exemplifying a theme of unity. The new digital billboards featured across the Valley of the Sun prominently feature an image of President Donald Trump backed by the Arizona Flag’s rays of red and gold sun above the blue sky and flanked by former Democrats, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and former Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., as well as Republicans Vice Presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), former Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and ‘X’ owner Elon Musk. Although Musk has been supporting Trump, he has historically declared himself a “registered independent” and “politically moderate.” Thus the billboard represents real political unity representing Democrats, Independents, and Republicans.
According to a press release from the AZGOP, the new billboard is “part of its ‘Team Unity’ campaign, featuring President Donald J. Trump and Vice Presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance alongside a coalition of prominent American heroes dedicated to restoring our great country.”
“The ‘Team Unity’ billboard is part of a broader effort by the AZGOP to energize voters ahead of the 2024 election. The AZGOP is committed to reaching every corner of the state with this message of hope, optimism, and most importantly, unity.”
The state party Chair Gina Swoboda hailed the billboard’s launch and emphasized the immense need for political unity in America:
“This billboard embodies the spirit of unity that our nation desperately needs,” said Swoboda. “The Trump-Vance ticket represents a powerful coalition of voices that will fight for America — protecting freedom of speech, addressing the health crisis, restoring prosperity, and ensuring security for all Americans. This campaign is about bringing together Arizonans and Americans who are united by their commitment to restoring our nation’s values and standing strong against those who seek to divide us.”
Dating back to his inaugural address in 2021 and throughout his term so far, President Joe Biden has often touted his administration as being one focused on “Unity,” but the message has largely fallen flat with voters, given that any “bipartisan” measures are only superficially so, typically representing the furthest left and most anti-Trump Congressmen and Senators siding against their own party, as well as the increasingly divisive and vitriolic rhetoric the Biden-Harris administration has employed against President Trump and his supporters.
During his inaugural address, Biden said, “We come together as one nation.” He claimed, “Democracy has prevailed,” adding, “We have much to repair, much to restore, much to build, much to heal, and much to gain. But we cannot do it while divided against ourselves. My whole soul is in this—bringing America together,” he said. It is time to end our “uncivil war.”
“Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.”
Although he attempted to pivot, claiming, “Not every Republican, not even the majority of Republicans, are MAGA Republicans. Not every Republican embraces their extreme ideology.” He quickly fell back to the divisive rhetoric, telling supporters, “There is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country.”
He added, “MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people.”
However, as the 2024 Election loomed, a resurgence of the new “Unity,” began to spring from the Biden-Harris administration. Yet, even then, he readily maligned President Trump and his supporters, and Vice President Kamala Harris through her campaign has continued to do so.
The clear dichotomy presents the Trump campaign versus the effort to install Harris, as the only ‘true’ example of unity across the political spectrum.
Reformed Democrats Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard pumped up the pro-Trump crowd at Arizona Christian University in Glendale on Saturday, railing against the hyperbolically left Democratic National Committee as having become the “party of war,” “the party of censorship.”
According to the New York Post, former Presidential candidate RFK, Jr., told the rapt audience, “Today it’s become the party of war, it’s become the party of surveillance, it’s become the party of censorship.” He added, “It’s no longer the party that I recognized.”
The event, entitled “Team Trump’s Reclaim America Tour,” was attended by approximately 600 people as reported by AZ Central, with more turned away at the door due to the size of the more intimate venue. The discussion was moderated by independent journalist Jessica Reed Kraus.
Kennedy’s showstopper moment came while explaining the withdrawal of his candidacy for President saying, “The reason I terminated my campaign is because it became clear to me my remaining in this campaign was going to bring to power a candidate who I believe will be easily manipulated by the deep state, by the national security state, by the intelligence agencies, to keep us in a state of continual war and seal the destruction of the United States of America.”
Gabbard echoed Kennedy’s sentiment, the outlet reported, noting that the Harris campaign would see America mired in “continual war,” citing the endorsement of anti-Trump GOP former Vice President Dick Cheney.
She referred to the Democratic Party as an “elite cabal,” and “warmongers,” asking, “How could I […] align with a party that stands for tyranny and war?”
The former Congresswoman cited efforts by the left to target both Kennedy and President Trump via “systematic weaponization of government.”
Gabbard countered, “We the people are far more powerful than them, which is why they are trying to destroy us, but we the people will not let them do that.”
As noted by the Post, Gabbard made a clear distinction between her and Kennedy’s message and the hyperpartisanship of the election at large. She told attendees the goal of their tour is to “point out the truth that this is not about Democrats versus Republicans. This is about our country.’
“This is about we the people standing up for freedom. This is about we the people standing up for peace.”
When asked about the pair’s future in the Trump campaign, Gabbard quipped, “Well I think Bobby and I are going to be on the road for the next 51 days,” and explained that despite her name not being on the ballot, as most politicians are who say it, “this is the most important election of our lives.” Wistfully noting that the waves in her home state of Hawaii “are really good right now,” she emphasized that the next 51 days will be filled with “conversations like this.”
Kennedy, answering the same, said his next trip home wouldn’t be for three weeks.
Brian Hughes, a senior Trump campaign advisor said in a statement released in late August that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team. He wrote, “As President Trump’s broad coalition of supporters and endorsers expands across partisan lines, we are proud that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard have been added to the Trump/Vance Transition team.” What roles the two will play in the second Trump administration remain unclear.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman for Hawaii, endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and attended her campaign event on Tuesday. Gabbard denounced Lake’s Democratic opponent, Katie Hobbs, decrying the Democratic Party as a group of elitist and racist warmongers.
Also in attendance at the forum in Chandler were Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters and Republican attorney general candidate Abe Hamadeh. The Arizona Young Republicans hosted the event, where hundreds turned out.
Gabbard argued during the event that Lake was the obvious choice to protect Arizonans’ freedoms.
“It is clear eyes to recognize the threats to your safety, to our borders, to our communities, to our families, to our kids, that are coming from today’s so-called ‘woke,’ radical Democrat Party,” said Gabbard.
Ahead of the event, Gabbard endorsed Lake with similar remarks, echoing her sentiment that the Lake would prioritize citizens over establishment interests.
“Kari Lake isn’t afraid to call out the warmongering elitist cabal of permanent Washington and the Military Industrial Complex, and their propagandists in the mainstream media,” wrote Gabbard.
Gabbard told Fox News that Hobbs’ refusal to debate was emblematic of the Democratic Party’s issue: that they refuse to engage in a conversation. Gabbard said that her former party was undermining our country’s values and ideals.
“They’re against free speech, they’re against democracy, they’re against freedom of religion, they’re against the very principles of this country: the God-given rights enshrined in this Constitution,” said Gabbard. “Meanwhile they’re pushing us further and further to the brink of nuclear war that threatens us, the very existence of the American people and the world.”
Gabbard has stated repeatedly that she no longer aligns with the Democratic Party on key issues, hence her support for right-wing candidates — even those backed by former President Donald Trump like Lake. Gabbard claims that the Democratic Party is made up of elitists, warmongers, woke-obsessed cowards, and racists.
Gabbard left the Democratic Party officially last week. She now identifies as an independent.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.