Former President Donald Trump clinched the endorsement of two more Florida House members, with GOP Reps. Greg Steube and John Rutherford formally backing the ex-president’s 2024 White House run.
Trump has now picked off six members of the Sunshine State’s congressional delegation over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce a presidential campaign but has been spending time in early primary states.
Florida Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills and Byron Donalds have already endorsed Trump.
Steube explained his choice for the White House because ‘Trump’s the only person that can reverse, on day one, all these disastrous policies of the Biden administration.’
Former President Donald J. Trump is racking up presidential endorsements including six House members from Florida
DeSantis should ‘concentrate on the great job that he’s doing’ as Florida’s governor, Steube suggested.
Rutherford said he was backing Trump because, in his opinion, the former president has been unfairly targeted by the justice system.
‘As a former Sheriff, I understand the importance of a fair and impartial system of justice,’ he tweeted on Tuesday. ‘The systematic targeting of Americans with conservative ideals, especially our 45th President of the United States, disgraces our nation’s legacy.’
Meanwhile, DeSantis doesn’t seem to be backing off exploring a presidential bid as he meets with Republican members of Congress on Capitol Hill, making the back-to-back endorsements from two Florida lawmakers particularly awkward.
From D.C., he’ll head to South Carolina, the state that hosts the first southern primary, and headline events in Charleston and Spartanburg.
DeSantis returns to the Hill on Friday for a speech at a Heritage Foundation event.
So far, just two GOP House members, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chip Roy of Texas, have endorsed a DeSantis presidential bid.
Trump has received the endorsement of 44 House members, nine senators and one governor – Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina.
Representative Greg Steube (R-Florida) just announced his endorsement of Donald Trump for the 2024 election.
GOP Florida Rep. John Rutherford also endorsed Trump over DeSantis for president
To date, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has received the endorsement of two GOP House members, while Trump has been endorsed by 44 House members, nine senators and one governor – Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina
Meanwhile, two prominent Republicans from South Carolina – former Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott – have announced their intentions to run.
Haley announced a bid in February, while Scott said he was forming an exploratory committee earlier this month.
Trump has been trying to siphon off donors and endorsements from other candidates so next year’s primary can conclude early.
During the ex-president’s Waco, Texas rally
Gaetz encouraged DeSantis and Sen. Ted Cruz, who ran against Trump in 2016, to quickly endorse Trump during a speech he delivered at Trump’s Waco, Texas rally last month.
‘Only Donald Trump could have rescued us from Hillary Clinton. Without Trump doing three rallies in the final week of the 2018 election in Florida, my governor today would probably be Andrew Gillum,’ Gaetz referencing DeSantis’ 2018 Democratic rival.
‘So, Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz: patriots of the MAGA movement delivered for you in your time of need,’ Gaetz said. ‘Today, Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz should endorse Donald Trump for president and stand with us as we were so proud to stand with them.’
