House majority leader Steve Scalise endorsed Donald Trump for president on Tuesday, just two weeks before the Iowa caucuses are set to kick off the GOP primary season in earnest.
“I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024, and I look forward to working with President Trump and a Republican House and Senate to fight for those families who are struggling under the weight of Biden’s failed policies,” Scalise wrote in a post on X.
Trump previously won endorsements from other House Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) and House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.). At least 95 sitting Republican House members and 18 sitting Republican senators have endorsed the former president, according to a tally by the New York Post.
In comments to Fox News, Scalise lauded Trump’s successes in his first term.
“The economy was strong and interest rates were low — grocery costs were affordable, and families could afford to buy a house and provide for their children,” Scalise added in comments to Fox News. “The border was secure and crime was down. America had secure energy policies, keeping gas and utility prices low.”
He went on to criticize President Biden over the crisis at the U.S. southern border.
“Fiscal Year 2023 surpassed Fiscal Year 2022 as the worst year at the border with the most migrant encounters on record, 169 individuals on the terrorist watchlist apprehended attempting to enter illegally, and over 27,000 pounds of fentanyl seized by the CPB,” Scalise said. “In Joe Biden’s America, our communities aren’t safe.”
Trump is by far the frontrunner in the race, with 62.5 percent support in a RealClearPolitics polling average. Florida governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley are tied for second at 11.2 percent, followed by Vivek Ramaswamy at 4.2 percent and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie at 3.4 percent.