Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem endorsed former President Donald Trump’s 2024 White House bid on Friday, calling him “the fighter our country needs.”
Noem’s endorsement came during a South Dakota GOP rally chaired by the 77-year-old, fueling speculation that the 51-year-old governor may be at the top of Trump’s 2024 running mate list.
“You made America great again, let’s do it again,” Noem said as he introduced Trump at the Rapid City rally.
“He has my full and complete endorsement for president of the United States. I will do everything I can to help him win and save this country,” he added, shortly before the former commander-in-chief took the stage.
Trump, the 2024 GOP front-runner, accepted the endorsement and praised Noem during his speech, calling him “one of the most successful governors in the entire country” and “a champion for American values.”
Governor Kristi Noem welcomes former US president and 2024 Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump to the stage during the South Dakota Republican Party Monumental Leaders rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, September 8, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
“Kristi, I am very honored to receive your support. Likewise,” Trump said.
“It’s a great honor,” he said accepting Noem’s support. “He means a lot.”
Noem revealed that some of Trump’s main rivals had been invited to attend a “Monumental Leaders Rally” on Friday but declined.
“Tim Scott was asked, and he refused. Vivek [Ramaswamy] was invited, and he turned us down. Other candidates were asked and all of them told us that they had better things to do,” said Noem.
“But when President Trump was invited to be with you tonight, he said, ‘I’ll be there.'”
Trump leads by nearly 40 points in the GOP primary race, according to the latest RealClearPolitics national polling average.
Trump leads by 40 points in GOP race.AFP via Getty Images
Noem’s allies hope his appearance with Trump will boost the image of the presidential ticket, two senior Republicans familiar with his thinking told the Associated Press.
Several members of the crowd held up “Trump/Noem 2024” signs as the president and governor delivered their speeches.
When asked Thursday during an interview with Newsmax if she would consider a theoretical chance to be Trump’s running mate, Noem replied, “Oh, absolutely.”
“I will in a second,” he added. “Only because you respect the position and the people who are asking you to do something and then see if you really believe that you can make a difference.”
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem speaks during the South Dakota Republican Party Monument Leaders gathering on September 8, 2023. AFP via Getty Images
“Trump needs a strong partner if he’s going to take back the White House,” he argued. “And he’s going to need someone who knows what it’s like to run a business, to be an employee, to get paid, but also to have a wife, a mother, and a grandmother isn’t bad either. And I think that perspective like that will influence a lot of policy decisions.”
The embattled former president faces a total of 91 charges across four criminal cases – and up to 712 years and six months in prison if convicted of all.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
