Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), has endorsed former President Donald Trump for President of the United States in a bid to help Republicans win back the Senate in 2024. The endorsement comes as part of ongoing discussions between Daines and Trump, including contact with Trump's eldest son.
The NRSC is currently considering whether to allocate substantial funds during primary races to eliminate weaker candidates from contention. This strategy risks igniting conflicts with hard-right candidates who align themselves closely with Trump.
Daines' support marks the first endorsement from a member of Senate GOP leadership towards Trump's potential campaign for presidency in 2024. In an interview on Donald Trump Jr.'s podcast "Triggered," Daines praised Trump's term as president, calling it the "best four years" he experienced while serving in the Senate.
He also criticized current President Joe Biden's perceived weakness, stating that it endangers global stability. Additionally, this key endorsement may provide protection against future attacks from Trump aimed at vulnerable Republicans associated with his Make America Great Again agenda.
With ten Republican senators now endorsing him for a third White House bid, even after Senator Tim Scott launched a presidential exploratory committee earlier this month, Donald Trump continues to demonstrate influence within party circles despite not yet officially announcing his candidacy.
This development could prove detrimental to other speculated contenders such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis or former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley; both have been mentioned as potential rivals vying for Republican nomination but have not received significant endorsements so far. As more prominent figures like Sen. Daines voice their support for another run by the former president, it remains uncertain how these prospective challengers will fare among their conservative base and what impact this growing list of endorsements might have on securing victory in November 2024.