With the 2024 Republican presidential nomination within his grasp, former President Donald Trump has garnered endorsements from two GOP governors who previously had strained relationships with him. Additionally, other conservative leaders who had previously remained neutral have also thrown their support behind Trump in the initial phases of the general election.
Iowa Governor, Kim Reynolds, expressed her strong support for Trump’s re-election bid in a recent post on X, formerly known as Twitter. She firmly believes that President Joe Biden has been detrimental to the nation, describing his tenure as a “disaster for our country.”
“I am determined to defeat him and ensure the election of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States!” Reynolds expressed his concerns about higher prices, inflation, an open border, crime, and the negative impact on America’s global reputation.
In November, she showed her support for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential bid, signaling a split with Trump. However, DeSantis’ campaign has since been suspended.
In July, Trump took to social media and criticized Reynolds for not endorsing him. He accused her of staying neutral and not supporting his candidacy, claiming that he had paved the way for her to become Governor.
During a press conference, she emphasized that her governorship was indebted to the people of Iowa, rather than the former president. She acknowledged that Iowans had placed their trust in her during the challenging year for Republicans in 2018. Despite the odds, she managed to secure victory and enjoyed overwhelming support in the ensuing 2022 election.
In November, Trump once again criticized the Iowa governor on his social media platform, accusing her of disloyalty and claiming that she had become widely unpopular, just like DeSantis.
In her response, she expressed that Trump felt disheartened because she didn’t endorse him from the start. She further stated that he was using her to deceive the people of Iowa by making it seem like she supported him.
On Wednesday, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin made a significant move by endorsing former President Donald Trump. This is a notable departure from Youngkin’s previous stance of keeping his distance from Trump.
In a statement shared on X, Youngkin expressed his endorsement for President Donald J. Trump, stating that voters in the Commonwealth and across the country have made their voices heard. He emphasized the need to unite around strong leadership and policies that will foster the growth of the United States. Youngkin firmly believes that the nation should not endure another four years of President Biden’s administration.
During his campaign and term in office, Youngkin has chosen to maintain a certain level of distance from Trump, despite the endorsement being anticipated. This decision aligns with his previous statement of supporting the Republican nominee.
During an event in California last May, Youngkin expressed his belief in the future of the Republican Party, stating that it does not necessarily rely on Donald Trump.
During his 2021 gubernatorial campaign, Youngkin received minimal involvement from Trump, who did not make any public appearances with him.
In 2022, Trump continued to assert on social media that Youngkin “couldn’t have won without me.”
It is worth mentioning that Youngkin did not attend Trump’s rally in Richmond, Virginia, in early March.
In the eyes of certain Republicans, Youngkin emerged as a potential alternative to Trump last year. Despite not outright dismissing the idea of a potential 2024 presidential bid, he garnered attention as a possible contender.
After Youngkin endorsed him on Wednesday, Trump expressed his gratitude in a social media post and expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the governor to secure a victory in Virginia. It’s worth noting that the state has consistently voted for the Democratic nominee for president since 2008.
The endorsements from Youngkin and Reynolds come at a time when other Republican leaders, including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously criticized Trump, have now chosen to endorse him following his Super Tuesday victories.
“I made it clear back in February 2021, just after the Capitol attack, that I would stand behind President Trump if he became the nominee of our party. And it’s evident that he will indeed be the nominee of our party,” McConnell informed reporters on Wednesday.
In contrast, Maryland’s former Governor Larry Hogan, who is now running for the U.S. Senate as a Republican, stated to Axios on Thursday that he will not back Trump in the general election. This is despite his previous commitment to support the Republican nominee, regardless of who it would be.
According to Hogan, he strongly believes that he has been one of the most vocal and consistent Republicans in America when it comes to addressing the transformations within the Republican Party.
