In a surprising turn of events, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has officially withdrawn from the 2024 presidential race, making the announcement just before the New Hampshire primary. In a video message, delivered with a cheerful tone, DeSantis endorsed his bitter rival, former US President Donald Trump, acknowledging that a majority of Republican primary voters prefer giving Trump another chance.
DeSantis expressed his commitment to supporting the Republican nominee by signing a pledge, stating, “I will honor that pledge.” He justified his endorsement of Trump by rejecting a return to the “old Republican guard” represented by former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, whom he criticized as embodying a repackaged form of “warmed-over corporatism.”
With DeSantis bowing out, the Republican presidential race narrows down to Donald Trump and Nikki Haley as the last major candidates ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Despite early indications that DeSantis had a strong position in challenging Trump, his withdrawal reshapes the dynamics of the competition.
DeSantis had entered the 2024 presidential contest with significant advantages, including a political fortune exceeding $130 million and a substantial legislative record on conservative issues like abortion and the teaching of race and gender topics in schools.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump, aiming for a White House comeback in November, is facing 91 criminal allegations across four different cases. Notably, he has called for “total presidential immunity” from criminal prosecution, arguing that even actions crossing the line during his presidency should be protected. Trump contends that presidential immunity is crucial for the proper functioning of the office, as without it, presidents could face indictment by opposing parties, leading to years of turmoil in distinguishing between good and bad actions.
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