Ex-candidates Haley, DeSantis endorse Trump at Republican Convention

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
17 Jul 2024 11:35

After the attempt on Trump's life, Republicans add Haley and DeSantis to the schedule of speakers at the convention in a show of unity.

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former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, left, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaks during a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX Business Network and Univision, September 27, 2023. (AP)

In a show of solidarity that highlighted Donald Trump's hold over the Republican party, ex-GOP candidates Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis enthusiastically endorsed Trump's presidential bid on Tuesday at the Republican National Convention.

Haley and DeSantis spoke at the Convention on its second night, while Trump smiled and cheered from his box above the Fiserv Forum, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Haley started by “making one thing perfectly clear: Donald Trump has my strong endorsement, period,” as she added that her speech was meant for those “who don’t agree with Donald Trump 100% of the time”.

“You don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him. Take it from me. I haven’t always agreed with President Trump. But we agree more often than we disagree,” she continued.

Haley also highlighted the achievements she believed Trump had made in international affairs and foreign policies.

“When Donald Trump was president, Putin did nothing. No invasions. No wars. That was no accident. Putin didn’t attack Ukraine because he knew Donald Trump was tough. A strong president doesn’t start wars. A strong president prevents wars,” she stated.

DeSantis wants Trump back in White House

Meanwhile, DeSantis said: “Let’s send Joe Biden back to his basement and let’s send Donald Trump back to the White House”.

After the attack and attempt on Trump's life on Saturday, Republicans added Haley and DeSantis to the schedule of speakers at the convention in a show of unity. Haley expressed being “happy to accept” the “gracious invitation”.

While Trump could be seen on the Jumbotron smiling widely as they spoke, Haley and DeSantis were Trump's biggest critics back in January after they ran against him in the GOP race.

During an interview on The Breakfast Club in January, Haley criticized Trump, saying, “He’s made it chaotic. He’s made it self-absorbed. He’s made people dislike and judge each other. He’s left that a president should have moral clarity, and know the difference between right or wrong, and he’s just toxic”.

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Even though DeSantis endorsed Trump shortly after dropping out of the presidential race in January, he reportedly continued to privately criticize him, saying America didn’t need a president who had “lost the zip on their fastball”.

DeSantis still did not spare a moment to attack Biden, “America cannot afford four more years of a Weekend at Bernie’s presidency,” noting “the woke mind virus is dead and Florida is a solid Republican state”.