Former President Donald Trump received the endorsement of two more members of the Florida House, with GOP Representatives Greg Steube and John Rutherford formally supporting the ex-president in the White House in 2024.
Trump has now selected six members of the Sunshine State’s congressional delegation over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has yet to announce a presidential campaign but has spent time in early primary states.
Florida Republican delegates Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Cory Mills and Byron Donalds have already endorsed Trump.
Steube explained his choice for the White House because “Trump is the only person who can reverse all these disastrous policies of the Biden administration on day one.”
Former President Donald J. Trump collects presidential endorsements, including six members of the House from Florida
DeSantis should “focus on the great job he’s doing,” as the Florida governor said, Steube suggested.
Rutherford said he supported Trump because, in his view, the former president was unfairly targeted by the justice system.
“As a former sheriff, I understand the importance of a fair and impartial justice system,” he tweeted Tuesday. “Systematic attacking Americans of conservative ideals, especially our 45th president of the United States, is a disgrace to the legacy of our country.”
Meanwhile, DeSantis doesn’t seem to be backing down from researching a presidential bid while meeting with Republican congressmen on Capitol Hill, making the back-to-back statements of support from two Florida lawmakers particularly awkward.
From DC, he heads to South Carolina, the state that hosts the first Southern primary, and main events in Charleston and Spartanburg.
DeSantis will return to the Hill on Friday to speak at a Heritage Foundation event.
So far, only two GOP House members, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chip Roy of Texas, have approved a DeSantis presidential bid.
Trump has received the endorsement of 44 members of the House of Representatives, nine senators and one governor – Governor Henry McMaster of South Carolina.
Representative Greg Steube (R-Florida) just announced his support for 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 – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
Meanwhile, two prominent South Carolina Republicans — former Governor Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott — have announced their intention to run.
Haley announced a bid in February, while Scott said earlier this month he was forming an exploratory committee.
Trump has attempted to siphon backers and endorsements from other candidates so that next year’s primary can be concluded early.
At the former president’s rally in Waco, Texas
Gaetz encouraged DeSantis and Senator Ted Cruz, who ran against Trump in 2016, to quickly support Trump during a speech he delivered last month at Trump’s rally in Waco, Texas.
Only Donald Trump could have saved us from Hillary Clinton. Without Trump holding three rallies in the last week of Florida’s 2018 election, my governor today would probably be Andrew Gillum,” Gaetz referred to DeSantis’ 2018 Democratic rival.
“So, Ron DeSantis, Ted Cruz, patriots of the MAGA movement have taken care of you in times of need,” Gaetz said. “Today, Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz should support Donald Trump for president and stand with us as we were so proud to stand with them.”