Robert Gamer: Author & Activist

As far as the fortunes of the Continental Army were concerned, Benedict Arnold committed his act of treason at a propitious time. With morale flagging from battlefield losses, news that a decorated officer had sold out to the enemy became a rallying cry. The betrayal galvanized the troops, offering a cause around which to unite.

In the Trump administration, Tulsi Gabbard is following in Arnold’s footsteps. A former military officer, she now serves as director of national intelligence. In switching allegiances to what some see as a modern-day monarchy under Donald Trump, Gabbard has committed her own act of political betrayal—abandoning the party that launched her career.

Upon leaving the Democratic Party, Gabbard declared it was “now under the complete control of an elitist cabal of warmongers driven by cowardly wokeness.” Her sharp rhetoric did not stop there. She accused Democrats of dividing the nation “by racializing every issue, stoking anti-white racism” and “actively working to undermine our God-given freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.” The American Samoan even claimed the party is hostile to people of faith and spirituality.

Gabbard has also alleged that Democrats “demonize the police and protect criminals at the expense of law-abiding Americans.” In her view, the party is “dragging us ever closer to nuclear war.”

Just as Arnold believed he was denied the recognition he deserved, Gabbard may harbor similar resentments. Her 2020 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination ended in failure, despite her endorsement of Joe Biden. She previously served as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2013 to 2016 and has a combat record that includes deployments to the Middle East and Africa.

What led Gabbard to switch sides? Was it ideology—or ambition? Her new appointment as director of national intelligence, a highly influential post, suggests the latter is worth considering. She has also gained prominence as a political commentator on Fox News, often using the platform to criticize her former party.

Yet, even in defection, there may be unintended consequences. Benedict Arnold’s betrayal, while damaging, helped galvanize revolutionary morale. In a similar vein, Gabbard’s high-profile break with the Democrats may serve as a wake-up call—or a unifying moment—for those who remain.