Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

GOP Sen. Tim Scott enters 2024 race for US president

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 May 2023 10:26
5 Min Read

The South Carolina senator is the latest Republican to challenge Donald Trump.

  • x
  • Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kick-off in West Des Moines, Iowa, April 22, 2023. (Reuters)
    Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kick-off in West Des Moines, on April 22, 2023. (Reuters)

Senator Tim Scott declared his candidacy for president on Monday, coming into the 2024 race as the latest GOP challenger to former US President Donald Trump.

"We need a president who persuades not just our friends and our base," he said while addressing his supporters in his hometown.

"We have to have compassion for people who don't agree with us. We have to believe that our ideas are so strong and so powerful and so persuasive that we can actually take it to the highest points in the world and be successful but we also have to be able to take it all the way down to places that today are hopeless and prove that who we are works for all Americans," he added.

"From the time the sun goes down until the sun comes up, Joe Biden and the radical left are attacking every single rung of the ladder that helped me climb. And that's why I'm announcing today that I am running for president of the United States of America," he said.

Scott highlighted his ascent from poverty to affluence in his 40-minute announcement speech, claiming that America is not a racist society. It is worth noting that Scott is the sole African-American Republican senator in the United States Senate.

Scott told his supporters, "We need to stop canceling our founding fathers and start celebrating them for the geniuses that they were. They weren't perfect, but they believed that we could become a more perfect union."

A candidate with a little name recognition 

Recent polls showcased that Scott is well behind the group of present and future contenders, with support in the low single digits. In contrast, former President Donald Trump's popularity might reach 40 or even 50% at times.

Scott evaded mentioning Trump or any of his opponents in his announcement address. He has stated that Americans want to hear from a candidate that has a good and hopeful outlook on the country. That, of course, does not prevent political attacks, but there were none on Monday.

Related News

Republican candidate Tim Scott withdraws; Trump in the lead

Ex-NJ governor Chris Christie announces 2024 presidential candidacy

Scott also revealed one of his campaign stump speech's regular applause lines. With the spotlight now fully on Biden and the Democrats, he's not afraid to engage in the culture wars that have become so prevalent in recent years.

"I will lead a revolution for excellence in our schools. Less C-R-T and more ABCs," adding a pitch for school options for parents. "No child and no child should be forced to attend failing schools simply because they live in the wrong zip code."

Second South Carolina Republican to enter the race

Scott will run with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who announced her campaign in February. Haley appointed him to the Senate to fill a vacancy a little over a decade ago. Both are well-liked in their home state, which is an important early-voting state for both Republicans and Democrats.

The South Carolina primary is the first in the South and frequently places a contender on the route to the nomination. Even yet, an April survey by Winthrop University shows Haley and Scott doing better in South Carolina than they do nationally, although both still lag behind Trump by a large majority.

A war hawk!

The Senator sells himself as a true conservative with a positive story to tell, but his history tells a different story, most notably regarding his stances on foreign policy in West Asia.

He's renowned as a defense hawk, most notably blocking a bill that would have stopped funding for the Iraq war. In May, Scott also approved a Ukraine supply plan.

Read next: Senate votes down repeal of AUMF law authorizing US wars

While Scott backed bipartisan criminal justice reform, he voted against a $550 billion infrastructure plan, a gun safety measure, and last year's government funding deal in the previous two years.

On the US hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan, he slammed Biden's choice calling what happened a “crisis which not only empowers the Taliban, but it also sends a message of weakness to our adversaries around the world who will be emboldened to encroach on U.S. allies by this abdication of leadership. Rather than a measured, responsible approach to ending the war in Afghanistan."

At the time, he added, "The Biden administration has presented a false choice between the current total chaos and staying in a ‘forever war'."

Though Scott's tone differs significantly from Trump's, the two politicians' platforms have considerably more similarities. Scott, like Trump, has advocated for a harder approach toward China and stressed the need of stopping migrants from entering the United States. Scott has promised to approve "the most conservative, pro-life legislation" that Congress can adopt on abortion, which will be a major issue in the 2024 race as a result of the Supreme Court's decision last year to overturn Roe v Wade. However, Scott has declined to establish a desired date for a nationwide abortion ban.

Scott's acceptance of his opponent's record has fueled suspicion that this White House candidacy is only a ruse to increase his prospects of becoming Trump's running mate, though the Senator has refuted such claims.

  • Tim Scott
  • Trump
  • GOP Sen. Tim Scott
  • Biden
  • 2024 Republican race
  • US elections

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS