Rep. Chip Roy Sparks Backlash After Announcing Endorsement for DeSantis Over Trump

On Saturday, Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) officially endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over former President Donald Trump for the first time since DeSantis announced his candidacy for president.

Roy posted the announcement on X in response to DeSantis’ wife, Casey DeSantis, posting photos of their recent visit to Iowa. Roy had previously endorsed DeSantis, but that occurred prior to the Florida governor’s registration as a presidential candidate.

“I stand 100% alongside this wonderful woman & her husband, Ron DeSantis, because they are truly good & decent people. America needs THAT again,” Roy wrote. “I proudly fight for to be our GOP nominee for President because it’s time to Meet The Moment & WIN again.”

The post garnered significant pushback from users on X, many of whom shot down the possibility of DeSantis making headway in the GOP primary. DeSantis is currently in second place in most polls, but former President Donald Trump holds double digit leads 

“He will lose, as you will, in the primary,” posted one user in the replies to Roy’s post. 

“O please!! Good and decent. He lied to the people in Florida to get reelected so they can fund his campaign,” posted another. “There’s nothing good and decent about these liars and she parades these kids around like a token for sympathy votes!”

“So you’re voting against the very people that elected you. Got it.” posted a third. 

Political commentator Gunther Eagleman simply posted “No. One. Cares.”

One user responded to Roy’s endorsement, saying it doesn’t matter whether he supports DeSantis or Trump, also raising concern over a possible presidential bid from Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) or former first lady Michelle Obama. Roy responded to the tweet and explained his endorsement.

“Well — Ron DeSantis is debating Newsom on FoxNews next week,” Roy wrote. “Trump is not showing up to debates.”

https://x.com/chiproytx/status/1728434694298206515?s=20

Trump and Roy have been at odds since the latter opposed Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In 2021, when Roy made a bid to become the chairman of the House Republican Conference, Trump instead endorsed Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), leading her to win the position. 

Trump is currently the front-runner among the candidates vying for the Republican nomination in 2024. He currently leads DeSantis 59.8% to 13.5% in RealClearPolitics‘s latest polling average.

Trump is not expected to appear at the fourth Republican debate, which will be hosted by NewsNation on Dec. 6 and will feature moderators Elizabeth Vargas from NewsNation, Eliana Johnson of the Washington Free Beacon and Megyn Kelly of SiriusXM. 

Trump and Kelly have clashed previously, during a debate ahead of the 2016 election but have since reunited for a one-on-one interview, and the two appear to be on better terms, despite some clashes.

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