Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Suspends Campaign and Supports Trump for President

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday that he is suspending his campaign for the presidency and endorsing Donald Trump for the upcoming November election. DeSantis, who was once seen as a main competitor to Trump, made the decision after his second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses.

In a video released on X, DeSantis stated, ‘It is clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.’ He went on to express his gratitude to his campaign volunteers but acknowledged that without a clear path to victory, he couldn’t ask them to continue supporting him.

Despite having previously disagreed with Trump on issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis emphasized that Trump is a better choice than the current incumbent, Joe Biden. The announcement comes just two days before the New Hampshire primary, where DeSantis was trailing in the polls.

With DeSantis’ exit from the race, the last obstacle to Trump’s nomination as the Republican candidate is former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. She responded to DeSantis’ announcement by praising his campaign and highlighting that now only ‘a guy and a lady’ remain in the race.

This week also saw Senator Tim Scott, another black Republican, dropping out of the race and endorsing Trump. DeSantis, who was considered a rising star within the Republican Party last year, gradually lost momentum during his campaign.

As the governor of Florida, DeSantis made headlines for his conservative ideas and his confrontational stance against what he deems as ‘political correctness.’ He garnered national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for his opposition to certain public health measures. Additionally, he joined other Republican governors in sending migrants to Democratic cities in the northern and eastern parts of the country.

While DeSantis faced criticism for his lack of charisma and infrequent smiles, his withdrawal from the race further solidifies Trump’s frontrunner position as the Republican nominee for president.