Reactions poured in following Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) dropping out of the Republican presidential primary race and endorsing former President Donald Trump over Nikki Haley, as some expressed disappointment while other celebrated the move toward GOP unity.
Unity has been a theme touted by several notable Republicans as the GOP primary race has carried on. Both Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) told Breitbart News Saturday over the weekend that it is clearly time for the GOP to coalesce behind Trump — the clear frontrunner.
“Over the past many months, Casey and I have traveled across the country to deliver a message of hope that decline is a choice and that we can, in fact, succeed again, as a nation. Nobody worked harder, and we left it all out on the field,” DeSantis said in a message posted to social media, announcing his decision to drop out of the race and admitting he sees no clear path to the nomination moving forward.
“Now following our second-place finish in Iowa, we’ve prayed and deliberated on the way forward. If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome — more campaign stops more interviews — I would do it. But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources if we don’t have a clear path to victory. Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign,” DeSantis announced, admitting that it is “clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.”
“While I’ve had disagreements with Donald Trump, such as on the coronavirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci, Trump is superior to the current incumbent Joe Biden. That is clear. I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee and I will honor that pledge. He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican Guard of yesteryear — a repackaged form of warmed over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents,” he continued, thanking his supporters for their devotion throughout his campaign.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 21, 2024
- Winston Churchill pic.twitter.com/ECoR8YeiMm
The news generated plenty of reactions across the board, as some of his supporters expressed disappointment, while Trump supporters celebrated, as this move puts Trump one step closer to sealing the deal.
“Ron DeSantis is a great patriot and class act,” conservative commentator and author Mark Levin said, acknowledging that DeSantis “did the right thing in suspending his campaign and endorsing President Trump.”
“Nikki Haley must and will be defeated. Then on to Biden, who is destroying our magnificent country, and the election of President Trump, who will reverse America’s decline at the hands of the radical Democrats,” he added:
Ron DeSantis is a great patriot and class act. He’s a solid, principled conservative and a kind and decent man. He’s a superb governor and has a great future. The Governor did the right thing in suspending his campaign and endorsing President Trump. Nikki Haley must and will be… https://t.co/sri3ZoBIE4
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) January 21, 2024
“Now is time that all republicans unite behind returning @realDonaldTrump to the White House,” Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis said.
“This is the most important election of our lifetimes,” he added:
Now is time that all republicans unite behind returning @realDonaldTrump to the White House. This is the most important election of our lifetimes. #flapol
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) January 21, 2024
“The important story is not that #DeSantis dropped out. That was inevitable sooner or later,” author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza said.
“The important thing is he endorsed Trump. That represents a kind of course correction, and also pretty much seals the deal for Trump and the nomination,” he added:
The important story is not that #DeSantis dropped out. That was inevitable sooner or later. The important thing is he endorsed Trump. That represents a kind of course correction, and also pretty much seals the deal for Trump and the nomination
— Dinesh D'Souza (@DineshDSouza) January 21, 2024
“Welcome to the party, Governor DeSantis. Now LFG!! MAGA!!!” Monica Crowley, former senior director of strategic communications for the National Security Council, exclaimed:
Welcome to the party, Governor DeSantis
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) January 21, 2024
Now LFG!!
MAGA!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸pic.twitter.com/TRm0v5E70J
“GREAT move by Governor Ron DeSantis! President @realDonaldTrump is uniting the GOP & we are closer than ever to taking our country back!” U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake exclaimed as others joined in — some happy and some not:
GREAT move by Governor Ron DeSantis! President @realDonaldTrump is uniting the GOP & we are closer than ever to taking our country back! #Trump2024 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/BPzUloP90b
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) January 21, 2024
Thank you, Governor. Classy, patriotic move. Republicans, let’s unite around @realDonaldTrump and bring this country back! To all my friends who supported DeSantis, I’m sure this is a tough day, but tomorrow let’s work together again to defeat the corrupt left. #MAGA2024! https://t.co/xCGM6Ppe2B
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) January 21, 2024
There will be a million eulogies for the DeSantis campaign and almost all of them will be wrong and laced with bias.
— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) January 21, 2024
Simple truth is you cannot fight the ocean. No candidate or campaign was going to defeat an indicted Trump. Period.
The establishment used Ron Desantis to take down Donald Trump.
— E (@ElijahSchaffer) January 21, 2024
They spent millions of dollars to try and take Donald Trump out.
They failed…
pic.twitter.com/Erv9yXAKNm
While DeSantis did the right thing, this isn’t the last we’ve heard of his campaign
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 21, 2024
There’s going to be an avalanche of stories coming out in the coming days and weeks
Donors are outraged at what happened
Glad DeSantis is dropping out. About time.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) January 21, 2024
He should now be asked to raise back the $120,000,000 that was wasted on his campaign the last year. We need it to win in November
I will NEVER vote Donald Trump again.
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) January 21, 2024
Sorry @RonDeSantis.
I hope he loses BIG TIME.
Even worse than last time.
VERY DISAPPONTING!!!
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) January 21, 2024
👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎 https://t.co/221pVwmF3w
Please see below this message from @RonDeSantis on an important decision made today: https://t.co/bB9gFIN62q
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) January 21, 2024
DeSantis just cancelled his Sunday show appearances.
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) January 21, 2024
Suspension of his campaign seems imminent.
It’s a real tragedy.
“We’re getting the band back together!”
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) January 21, 2024
Thank you @RonDeSantis#Trump2024 pic.twitter.com/ZaskRatDxm
Governor Ron DeSantis drops out of presidential race and endorses @realDonaldTrump for 2024
— Amy Kremer (@AmyKremer) January 21, 2024
But he doesn’t just endorse Trump, he kicks Nikki Haley
This is the right way!🇺🇸
pic.twitter.com/lAvXeiRuND
DeSantis out and Haley soon. The Trump train is rolling.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) January 21, 2024
I am as proud as anything I have done in politics to have stood with this patriot & his wonderful team. Thank you to all who supported a cause greater than any one individual. This is just the beginning. We will restore freedom & American prosperity again. #DeSantis https://t.co/YkLRt5GjB7
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) January 21, 2024
America has missed its best chance to return to greatness.
— Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) January 21, 2024
Thank you Ron Desantis for stepping up and giving it your all ! https://t.co/MjnJtGoHPM
Ultimately the right decision. Proud to have worked for @RonDeSantis. https://t.co/Pnx8Qj0G7m
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) January 21, 2024
This story is developing.