Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on Wednesday became the final member of the Senate Republican leadership conference to endorse former President Donald Trump as the Republican presidential nominee.
“We must defeat Joe Biden and get this country back on track,” Ernst wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. “Donald Trump supports me.”
Mr. Ernst’s endorsement was announced a day after Mr. Trump rounded up a Super Tuesday delegation of about 1,000 people and inched closer to securing the top Republican presidential nomination in November. Nikki Haley is Trump’s only major opponent. canceled her presidential campaign Wednesday morning.
Ernst said last month on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that President Trump used the word “hostage” to describe supporters arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. criticized for using it.
Host Kristen Welker asked Ernst if he was concerned about President Trump’s description of the prisoners on January 6th.
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“This is because there are American hostages being held against their will all over the world, especially in this context when you look at the innocent people who were attacked and kidnapped on October 7th,” Ernst said. That’s what I can say.” “We are approaching 100 days. These are the people who have been taken away. They are locked in tunnels with terrorists, tortured, raped, and denied medication. So we cannot equate the two. .Comparison.”
In a subsequent interview, Ernst said he was not opposed to pardoning those involved on January 6, saying it was at the president’s discretion.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has declined in recent months to comment on whether he supports the former president, also endorsed Trump on Wednesday.
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“What happened before is abundantly clear.” president trump gained the support of Republican voters necessary to become a candidate for president of the United States. It is no surprise that he has my support as a candidate,” McConnell said in a statement.
He added, “During my presidency, we worked together to accomplish great things for the American people, including tax reform that boosted our economy and generational changes to our federal judiciary and, most importantly, our Supreme Court.” Stated.
more republican lawmaker Both houses of Congress have rallied behind former President Donald Trump. More than 100 House Republicans and 20 Senate Republicans support the former president.
FOX News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.
