Former President Donald Trump is congratulating his one-time rival for ending his 2024 presidential aspirations.
During an event on Sunday, Trump took a few moments to react to the news that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) had suspended his presidential campaign.
“Before we begin, I’d like to take time to congratulate Ron DeSantis, and of course a really terrific person, who I’ve gotten to know, his wife Casey for having run a great campaign for president,” he said.
Watch the video below:
Trump: I would like to take time to congratulate Ron Desantis… He endorsed me and I appreciate that pic.twitter.com/8frBsWa6SN
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 22, 2024
Trump went on to say the Florida governor ran a “really good campaign.”
“It’s not easy. They think it’s easy doing stuff,” he added.
Trump also praised DeSantis for being “gracious” while he suspended his campaign and noted he received the governor’s endorsement.
“I appreciate that. And I also look forward to working with Ron and everybody else to defeat Crooked Joe Biden — we have to get him out,” he added.
On Sunday, DeSantis noted his distant second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses and said he “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,” he announced.
The news comes days ahead of the New Hampshire Republican primary.
According to RealClearPolitics’ average of polls, DeSantis was polling in a distant third place.
