How Ron DeSantis Supporters Reacted to Him Dropping Out

Ron DeSantis supporters have lavished praise on the Florida governor after he announced on Sunday that he was dropping out of the 2024 Republican presidential race and backing front-runner Donald Trump.

In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, on January 21 DeSantis said: “I am today suspending my campaign.”

“It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters wanna give Donald Trump another chance,” he added.

DeSantis said Trump “has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear” and claimed Nikki Haley, now the former president’s chief rival, represents “a repackaged form of warmed over corporatism.”

In a statement the Trump campaign said they were “honored” by the endorsement and the GOP front-runner said ‘Ron DeSanctimonius,’ the derogative nickname he gave his primary opponent, was “officially retired.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, a DeSantis supporter, paid tribute to him in a post on X. She wrote: “It was an honor to support Ron DeSantis. His record as Governor of Florida is phenomenal, and I know he will continue to be an effective leader for years to come.

“Thank you Ron DeSantis and Casey DeSantis for your leadership and friendship. Our country is better because of you.”

Representative Chip Roy, a Texas Republican who had endorsed DeSantis, wrote: “I am as proud as anything I have done in politics to have stood with this patriot & his wonderful team. Thank you to all who supported a cause greater than any one individual. This is just the beginning. We will restore freedom & American prosperity again.”

Adam Laxalt, the former Nevada attorney general who ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2022, praised DeSantis and announced his own endorsement had switched across to Trump. He wrote: “I was proud to support a close friend who I knew in my heart would make for a transformational President. While this was not his time, I know he will continue to show us tremendous leadership and be the best and most courageous Governor in America.

“President Trump deserves a chance to finish the job. The time to unite is now. I fully endorse him and encourage all Nevadans to Caucus for him on February 8th and quickly get on to defeating Joe Biden in November!”

Also on X, Mark Levin, a conservative radio personality who had described himself as “all in for DeSantis,” commented: “Ron DeSantis is a great patriot and class act. He’s a solid, principled conservative and a kind and decent man. He’s a superb governor and has a great future.

“The Governor did the right thing in suspending his campaign and endorsing President Trump. Nikki Haley must and will be defeated. Then on to Biden, who is destroying our magnificent country, and the election of President Trump, who will reverse America’s decline at the hands of the radical Democrats.”

DeSantis also received praise from members of his own campaign team, including press secretary Bryan Griffin, who described him as “the statesman we need, a true conservative” and said he “consistently took ground back from the left.” The campaign’s rapid response director Christina Pushaw added: “Nobody worked harder. He and Casey DeSantis left it all on the field.”

Newsweek has reached out to the DeSantis campaign for comment by email.

However, DeSantis was mocked on X by Mary Trump, the former president’s estranged niece, who focused on his “Never Back Down” slogan. She wrote: “Mr. Never Back Down officially backed down. Thus, Donald just said the name DeSanctimonious is ‘officially retired’.”

DeSantis was also criticized for allegedly using a false Winston Churchill quote while announcing his campaign suspension. Posting on X he wrote: “‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.’ – Winston Churchill.”

However the International Churchill Society, an organization focused on “preserving the historic legacy of Sir Winston Churchill,” said the British wartime leader never actually used those words.