- Details
- By Neely Bardwell
Native Vote 2024. Former President Donald Trump on Monday, Aug. 26 gave remarks at the 146th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference & Exhibition in Detroit, Michigan. He addressed Army and Air National Guard officers, family members, and others, where he highlighted the critical role the National Guard plays in the nation's security and outlined the stakes of the upcoming election.
"I've had no greater honor in life than to serve as your commander-in-chief. You are 'always ready' and 'always there' for us ... and I'm always going to be there for you," Trump greeted the crowd.
During the event, Trump was endorsed by former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a 17-year veteran of the Hawaii Army National Guard former 2020 Democrat presidential candidate. She will also be present as a moderator of Trump's visit to La Crosse, Wisconsin for a Town Hallon Thursday, August 29, 2024.
"I am confident that his first task will be to do the work to walk us back from the brink of war," she said.
Gabbard, during a Democratic presidential debate in 2020, made the now popular claim against Harris that “she put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations” and “blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row.” This claim has since been debunked and labeled “misleading.”
A critical investigation revealed that though the laws in California at the time allowed for marijuana possession to be charged, Harris’s office never pursued prosecution of any such cases. Under Harris’s watch, marijuana sales cases were often charged as misdemeanors when they could have been charged as felonies.
PolitiFact notes in its fact check of this debate that most of the cases where evidence may have exonerated someone unfolded before Harris was Attorney General, and Gabbard’s claim that inmates were incarcerated longer than their sentences is not backed up by data.
At the event on Monday, Trump said that he will create a Space National Guard, following in his previous creation of the Space Force Branch. He also vowed to end veteran homelessness with an executive order.
"I will sign an executive order to stop every penny that Harris has been spending on the shelter and transport of illegal aliens — and we will redirect that money to provide shelter and treatment for homeless American veterans."
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsNative News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Rep. Mary Peltola's Reelection Race Still to be Called
Native News Online Post-Election Survey Shows Trump-Harris Split, Reservation Divide
Six Native American Women Making a Difference in Indian Country
Support Independent Indigenous Journalism That Holds Power to Account
With the election now decided, Native News Online is recommitting to our core mission: rigorous oversight of federal Indian policy and its impact on tribal communities.
The previous Trump administration’s record on Indian Country — from the reduction of sacred sites to aggressive energy development on tribal lands — demands heightened vigilance as we enter this new term. Our Indigenous-centered newsroom will provide unflinching coverage of policies affecting tribal sovereignty, sacred site protection, MMIR issues, water rights, Indian health, and economic sovereignty.
This critical watchdog journalism requires resources. Your support, in any amount, helps maintain our independent, Native-serving news coverage. Every contribution helps keep our news free for all of our relatives. Please donate today to ensure Native News Online can thrive and deliver impactful, independent journalism.
