Senator Kennedy Declares Trump’s Victory: ‘This Race is Settled’

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is backing former President Donald Trump after Trump’s primary victories in Iowa and New Hampshire.

In a post on X, Kennedy said he waited to give the endorsement until seeing Trump’s win in the New Hampshire primary.

“Competition makes us all better, so I let the primary play out, but this thing’s over,” Kennedy wrote. “It’s going to be Pres. Trump versus Pres. Biden: A choice between hope and more hurt. It’s not even close. I choose hope. I am endorsing Pres. Trump and look forward to working with him.”

Kennedy joins other GOP senators to announce a Trump endorsement after the New Hampshire win. 

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who voted to convict Trump in January 2021 and also voted to certify Joe Biden’s election, has not announced an endorsement, nor has GOP Rep. Garret Graves, NOLA.com reported.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., declared his backing on Jan. 2. Two other Republican members of Louisiana’s delegation — Reps. Clay Higgins and Julia Letlow — have endorsed Trump, according to a running tally by fivethirtyeight.com. 

“American families and workers deserve a president who will stand up for them and their safety, rescue us from failed Bidenomics, and restore our nation to greatness,” Scalise said on Jan. 2. 

“In this race, there is one man who has a proven track record of being able to save our country and get us back on track: Donald Trump. He has done it once before, and I know he will do it again.”

Trump’s primary opponent, Nikki Haley, has given no indication she plans to drop out of the race, though GOP chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said she should exit soon.

“Looking at the math and the path going forward and I don’t see it for Nicki Haley. I think she ran a great campaign. The message from the voters is clear,” McDaniel said after the New Hampshire primary win by Trump.

“We need to unite around our eventual nominee, which is going to be Donald Trump. We need to be sure we beat Joe Biden. It’s 10 months away until the November election. We can’t wait any longer to put our foot on the gas to beat the worst president who kept our borders opened and allowed fentanyl to pour through and allowed rampant inflation.”