Rep. Michael Waltz endorses Trump, adding to wave of Florida GOP support
Samantha-Jo Roth
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Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) became the latest Florida lawmaker to announce his support for Donald Trump for president over Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), adding to a growing number of Trump endorsements from the Sunshine State’s congressional delegation.
Trump, who has already announced his bid for the nomination for a third time, and DeSantis, who is expected to announce a presidential run sometime this summer, are ramping up efforts to gain support from members of Congress. But, so far, Trump is winning.
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Just a couple of months ago, Waltz refused to wade into the looming primary battle between Trump and DeSantis, telling Fox News he thought the next president is “likely to come from the Great State of Florida.”
Waltz had previously said he’d hoped DeSantis and Trump would “work something out,” but that all changed on Thursday morning.
“These last 2 years under Biden have been disastrous for our country. Inflation’s rampant, our enemies are on the march & our southern border’s wide open,” Waltz tweeted. “We need bold & experienced leadership back in the White House. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Donald J. Trump for president.”
https://twitter.com/michaelgwaltz/status/1649050345421819906?s=20
Waltz’s Trump endorsement becomes the 11th of the 20-member Florida Republican delegation. Reps. Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Greg Steube, Byron Donalds, John Rutherford, Cory Mills, Vern Buchanan, and Brian Mast have all announced their support of Trump’s third run for the White House. Trump also unveiled the endorsements of Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) in a fundraising email on Wednesday.
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Over the years, Waltz has cautiously threaded the needle when it comes to Trump, careful not to criticize him directly while also, at times, publicly rejecting and voting against policies pushed by his administration. In 2020, the congressman voted against Trump’s push for $2,000 stimulus checks. He also voted in favor of an override of Trump’s veto of a national defense bill.
Trump offered a late endorsement in 2018 for Waltz, who was in an expensive race for Congress against Democrat Nancy Soderberg. Trump also made a “complete and total endorsement” of Waltz in September 2021.