Donald Trump Welcomes Ron DeSantis’ Endorsement
ROCHESTER, N.H. – After months of criticism and mockery, Donald Trump celebrated Ron DeSantis as his newest supporter at a rally in New Hampshire on Sunday night. DeSantis, the Florida governor, recently ended his presidential campaign and endorsed the former president.
A Bitter Rivalry Comes to an End
Trump’s praise for DeSantis without any derogatory nicknames marked the end of a bitter rivalry between the two Republicans. Trump expressed his gratitude and excitement about working with DeSantis, describing him as “a really terrific person.”
Earlier in the day, DeSantis announced via video that he would be ending his campaign two days before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation GOP primary. However, DeSantis’ endorsement was not the warmest, as he stated matter-of-factly that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Trump another chance.
DeSantis also took a dig at Nikki Haley, describing her as a representative of the “old Republican guard of yesteryear.” Despite this, Trump seemed unfazed by DeSantis’ approach and emphasized the challenges of being in politics.
Supporters’ Perspectives
Brenda Moneypenny, a registered independent who often votes Republican, waited for two hours in the cold to see Trump. She had considered Haley but never DeSantis, describing him as “too flim-flamsy.” Ultimately, she settled on Trump as her choice.
A Personal Grudge
Throughout the campaign, Trump openly criticized DeSantis, considering his decision to run against him an act of disloyalty. Despite endorsing DeSantis in the past, Trump often boasted about his own advantages over the governor.
DeSantis concentrated his campaign efforts in Iowa, where he finished second in last week’s caucuses. Surveys suggested that DeSantis’ supporters were more likely to back Trump no matter what, potentially boosting Trump’s chances in New Hampshire and frustrating Haley’s momentum.
Trump noted that he won New Hampshire’s 2016 primary by a significant margin and plans to return for an evening rally in Laconia after attending a civil defamation trial in New York.
___ Barrow reported from Atlanta.
