Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida and a former Republican candidate, shocked the nation when he announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, January 21st.
After coming in second place in the Iowa Republican caucuses by a small margin, he shared a video on X to declare his withdrawal from the race.
In the now-viral video, he says,
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.
He also went on to endorse the former president Donald Trump, who is running for a second term, over Nikki Haley, the only remaining Republican contender. DeSantis mentioned that despite his disagreements with the former president, he believed Trump to be “superior” to Joe Biden.
He also took a clear shot at Ms Haley when he said,
We can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear or repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents
This statement is perceived to be a major blow to Haley, who had been trying to distance herself from the former president and his divisive rhetoric. She had criticized Trump for his role in inciting the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, and had called for his impeachment and conviction. She had also accused Trump of lying to the American people and undermining democracy and the Constitution.
Generally, DeSantis’s withdrawal and endorsement of Trump have dramatically changed the dynamics of the 2024 presidential race and have created a new challenge for Haley, who will have to face not only Biden, but also Trump and his loyal base.
