Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has withdrawn from the race to become the Republican presidential nominee, and has backed former President Donald Trump.
The governor formally announced the suspension of his campaign in a Jan. 21 video posted on X. "Following our second place finish in Iowa, we've prayed and deliberated on the path forward. If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome – more campaign stops, more interviews – I would do it," he said.
"It's clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Trump another chance. I can't ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don't have a clear path to victory."
DeSantis acknowledged his disagreements with Trump, especially on issues such as the handling of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the former president's "elevation of [Dr.] Anthony Fauci." Despite this, he believes it is "clear" that the real estate mogul-turned-president "is superior to" incumbent President Joe Biden – a Democrat. DeSantis also mentioned that Trump's presidency was obstructed "by relentless resistance" and the Democrats use "lawfare to this day to attack him."
Trump won the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15, taking 51 percent of the votes. DeSantis landed second with 21 percent, while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley took 19 percent. Following his withdrawal, "DeSantis will focus his energy on serving as Florida's governor," LifeSiteNews said.
The chief executive of the Sunshine State then took a jab at the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the only remaining contender for the GOP nomination. "[Trump] has my endorsement because we can't go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear: A repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Haley represents," he said.
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Meanwhile, Trump weighed in on his rival's decision to withdraw on the same day. "I was honored that he endorsed me this quickly. It's not easy; he fought hard," he told Fox News on Jan. 21. According to Trump, he believes his policies are "very similar" to those of the Florida governor, such as border security and tax cuts.
Rivals past and present endorsing Trump
Trump's appeal among voters, which was further galvanized by the indictments against him brought by four Democratic prosecutors, has prompted endorsement by his rivals past and present. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who garnered 7.7 percent of votes in the Iowa caucuses, formally endorsed Trump after withdrawing from the race.
"I think it is true that we did not achieve the surprise that we wanted to deliver tonight. As of this moment, we are going to suspend this presidential campaign. There is no path for me to be the next president, absent things we don't want to see in this country," Ramaswamy told supporters on Jan. 15 after his loss at the caucuses.
"And earlier tonight, I called Trump to tell him that I congratulate him on his victory. Going forward, he will have my full endorsement for the presidency." (Related: Vivek Ramaswamy drops out of Republican primary race, endorses Donald Trump.)
Even Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who faced off with Trump during the 2016 primaries, endorsed the former president. He issued this endorsement following the caucuses, pointing out that his former rival's victory in the Hawkeye State "was across the board."
"I believe this race is over, so I am proud to endorse Trump for President of the United States. I look forward to supporting him enthusiastically because I think it's time for the GOP to unite … [and] to come together," he told Sean Hannity of Fox News. "We've [got to] beat Biden … [and] this disastrous cultural Marxist agenda in the White House."
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Watch this Fox News report about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis dropping out of the GOP presidential race and endorsing Trump.
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