Senator Tim Scott Endorses Donald Trump for President, Deals Blow to Nikki Haley

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has dealt a blow to fellow South Carolinian Nikki Haley by endorsing Donald Trump for president. Scott made the announcement at a rally in Concord, New Hampshire, ahead of the state’s primary. Speaking to the crowd, Scott hyped them up by asking if it was ‘Trump Country.’ He then praised Trump’s stance on immigration, social security, and his commitment to fighting crime before officially declaring his endorsement.

Scott stated, ‘That’s why I came to the very warm state of New Hampshire to endorse the next president of the United States, Donald Trump. We need a president who will unite our country, and we need Donald Trump.’ Trump thanked Scott for his endorsement, calling him a ‘very good man’ and a ‘very respected man,’ while also criticizing other Republicans for wasting money attacking him. He particularly singled out Nikki Haley, accusing her of forming an ‘unholy alliance’ with ‘RINOs’ and ‘never-Trumpers.’

This endorsement comes just days before the New Hampshire primary scheduled for January 23rd. Initially, there were rumors that Scott was aiming to become Trump’s vice president, with many voters seeing him as a potential second-in-command. However, Scott dismissed these rumors, stating that he did not enter the presidential race to come in second place.

Scott, who has announced that he will not seek re-election in the Senate, stated on CNBC‘s ‘Squawk Box’ in December that his endorsement of a presidential candidate ‘certainly won’t happen this year, if I do it at all.’ It appears that he arrived at his decision only recently. Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, finished a close second to DeSantis in the Iowa caucuses and is currently trailing behind Trump in New Hampshire polls. Winning the primary could help her build momentum as she heads into her home state of South Carolina, where she still lags behind Trump in terms of popularity.

Nikki Haley responded to Scott’s endorsement by criticizing him, quoting Trump’s own words about wanting to ‘drain the swamp.’ She stated, ‘Interesting that Trump’s lining up with all the Washington insiders when he claimed he wanted to drain the swamp. But the fellas are gonna do what the fellas are gonna do.’

Scott’s endorsement adds to the growing list of former Republican rivals who have backed Trump, including Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. However, Scott’s endorsement holds particular significance due to the upcoming South Carolina primary on February 24th. Trump has already secured endorsements from other notable figures in South Carolina, such as Senator Lindsey Graham and Governor Henry McMaster, as well as three of the state’s Republican members of the U.S. House. Haley has only received an endorsement from Congressman Ralph Norman.

Overall, Donald Trump now has the support of 26 out of 49 Senate Republicans. With the New Hampshire primary just four days away, Trump hopes to build on his momentum from the Iowa caucuses. Additionally, Scott, who garnered attention during the presidential race in 2023, is seen as a potential running mate for Trump if he wins the Republican nomination.