WASHINGTON – Rep. Lance Gooden (R-Texas) endorsed Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid on Tuesday after a “positive meeting” with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a stinging rebuke from the GOP presidential hopeful.
“I met with Governor DeSantis, and while he’s doing a great job in Florida, there’s no doubt in my mind that President Trump is the only leader who can save America from the left-wing assault we’re currently facing,” Gooden said in a statement after “careful consideration” of the race.
Gooden is the latest in a slow but steady wave of Republican lawmakers to endorse Trump for the GOP nomination. The former president, who has been impeached twice, most recently in an unprecedented attempt to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, now has the support of nine Republican senators and more than three dozen House GOP members.
To make matters worse for DeSantis, who has yet to announce his candidacy, seven Florida House Republicans have endorsed the former president. Representatives Brian Mast and John Rutherford announced their support for Trump just hours before DeSantis’ meeting with congressional Republicans on Tuesday.
Still, DeSantis’ meet-and-greet event near the U.S. Capitol drew dozens of curious GOP lawmakers, including three senators: Mike Lee (Utah), John Cornyn (Texas) and Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.). Some, however, said they would support him for president if he decided.
The battle for congressional endorsements between the two men comes as Trump continues to dominate the polls in the race for the 2024 GOP nomination.
Trump mocked DeSantis on Tuesday for his battle with entertainment giant Disney, which has defeated the Florida governor’s efforts to impeach him for criticizing the “Don’t Talk About Gay” law.
“DeSanctus has been completely destroyed by Disney,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, predicting that Disney would freeze or withdraw its investment in Florida.
“Now, this is all unnecessary, political STUN!” Trump added.