Ron DeSantis ally back Trump for president in latest Florida defection | Ron DeSantis

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In a blow to Ron DeSantis, a prominent ally of the rightwing governor on Tuesday he was one of only two Florida Republicans in Congress to support Donald Trump for president, the latest in a series of defections.

The news comes amid reports that DeSantiss’ team pressured US representatives from his state not to endorse Trump.

Brian Mast told CNN he plans to endorse the former president and lead a committee of veterans in support of Trump’s re-election bid.

Peter Schorsch, publisher of FloridaPolitics.com said: Brian Mast has been an ally of DeSantiss on environmental and water issues in South Florida. Mast is on DeSantiss hip during press conferences. They are also both veterans. wow

Schorsch also said Masts’ decision was up there with Byron Donalds choosing Trump over DeSantis.

Donalds introduced DeSantis for his election night speech last November, after his landslide victory over Democrat Charlie Crist. Last week, however, Donalds told NBC that he fell for Trump because he was a candidate ready for prime time.

On Tuesday, Mast and John Rutherford became the sixth and seventh congressional Florida Republicans to endorse Trump. Rutherford announced his decision in a tweet.

As a former sheriff, he said, I understand the importance of a fair and impartial justice system. The systematic targeting of Americans with conservative ideals, especially our 45th president of the United States, disgraces our nations heritage.

He was referring to Trumps criminal indictment in New York this month, on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to his hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump also faces legal jeopardy over his subversion of the election and instigation of the deadly January 6 attack on Congress, his handling of classified material, his business and tax affairs, and an allegation of rape He denies all wrongdoing.

His sheriff-turned-congressman supporter added: As strong Republicans, we must restore law, order and justice to our country under the leadership of President Trump, America is safer, more secure and more prosperous.

Trump lost to Joe Biden in 2020, a tumultuous year amid the Covid pandemic and protests for racial justice.

For inciting an insurrection in his attempt to reverse that defeat, fueled by the lie that Biden won thanks to electoral fraud, Trump was impeached a second time. But he escaped conviction and is now the clear front-runner in the race for the GOP nomination, using his legal woes to boost fundraising and support.

DeSantis has not announced his candidacy but is widely expected to do so. He is Trump’s closest challenger but his numbers have stagnated as he has been criticized for extreme policies including a six-week abortion ban, school book bans and a slow-moving battle with Disney. Last week, a major donor said he was withholding support.

On Tuesday, Trump got endorsements from one governor (Henry McMaster of South Carolina), nine senators and 47 members of the House.

DeSantis is in Washington to meet with members of Congress. At least one attendee was not sold. Emerging from what he called a positive meeting with the governor, Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican, issued his endorsement of Trump.

Politico reported that Trump aides made the call before the Florida detours. An unnamed source said: The amazing part of it is how easy it is.

NBC first reported the calls by allies of DeSantis to Florida Republicans. An unnamed source said: There is clearly some disquiet from the DeSantis camp that so many members of the state’s congressional delegation have thrown their support behind Trump.

Rutherford and Mast were not among the Republicans named. The New York Times, however, cited an official familiar with the effort when it said: Others in the 20-member Republican delegation from Florida are almost certainly on the call list.

A Republican named by NBC, Laurel Lee, endorsed DeSantis on Tuesday. Another, Greg Steube, declared for Trump on Monday.

According to Politico, other members are expected to support Trump in the coming days.

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