Former President Donald Trump continues to maintain a commanding lead over the rest of the 2024 GOP presidential primary field while adding the names of top Republican Party officials to his list of endorsements.
Most recently, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) confirmed that he is supporting Trump’s bid for a second term in the White House.
Scalise, whose position is just behind House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) in the House of Representatives hierarchy, issued a statement on the matter this week.
“I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024, and I look forward to working with President Trump and a Republican House and Senate to fight for those families who are struggling under the weight of Biden’s failed policies,” he wrote in a social media post on Tuesday.
Both Johnson and former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who previously served as speaker before his ouster in October, have also endorsed the former president.
Mike Johnson endorses Trump for president. pic.twitter.com/ZAezHkAMYC
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) November 14, 2023
“I will support the president,” McCarthy said in a statement last month. “I will support President Trump.”
He resigned from Congress at the end of 2023 and indicated that he would be open to
accepting a position in a Trump White House if offered an opportunity to do so.
“In the right position, look, if I’m the best person for the job, yes,” he said.
Citing the first Trump term as a foundation for future collaboration, McCarthy said: “Look, I worked with President Trump on a lot of policies. We worked together to win the majority. But we also have a relationship where we’re very honest with one another.”
As of Tuesday, Trump has secured endorsements from seven governors, 18 senators and 96 members of the House.
Voters will have their first opportunity to weigh in on the Republican primary in the Iowa caucuses later this month and, while rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis continue to jockey for second place in the polls, Trump is the state’s clear front-runner.
The latest polling average shows him with the support of more than half of the party’s voters.
GOP strategist Jimmy Centers explained: “Trump wants it to be the knockout blow. The sooner you can move on to the general and secure the nomination, the better off your campaign will be.”
