Ron DeSantis drops out of 2024 US presidential race and endorses Donald Trump

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced his has dropped out of the 2024 US presidential race.

Mr DeSantis – the biggest challenger to Donald Trump for the Republican nomination – dropped out of the primary race on Sunday.

He made the announcement in a video posted on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in which he endorsed Mr Trump for president, who is ahead of his biggest presidential rival, Joe Biden.

His decision means that former US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is now the last Republican with a shot of beating Mr Trump for the nomination in the November election

Mr DeSantis said following the result and “deliberation” with his campaign team, that he could no longer see a “clear path to victory” in the Republican race.

He added: “If there was anything I could do to produce a favourable outcome, more campaign stops, more interviews, I would do it.

“But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources. We don’t have a clear path to victory.

“Accordingly, I am today suspending my campaign.”

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Endorsing Mr Trump, he added: “It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.

He also took a swipe at Ms Haley, saying Mr Trump has his endorsement “because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear,” which he described as “repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents”.

Mr Trump has yet to responded to the governor’s decision but Haley sent him well wishes as she campaigned in Seabrook, New Hampshire, saying: “He ran a great race, he’s been a good governor, and we wish him well. Having said that, it’s now one fella and one lady left.”

Earlier in Mr DeSantis’ campaign polls showed he was in a strong position to take on Mr Trump.

Mr DeSantis and his allies amassed a political fortune well in excess of $130 million during his campaign.

He also boasted a significant legislative record on issues important to many conservatives, like abortion and the teaching of race and gender issues in schools.

In last week’s Iowa caucus, Mr DeSantis narrowly finished ahead of Ms Haley with 21% of the vote, while winner Mr Trump received 51%.

Mr DeSantis said his second-place was a victory, claiming that his campaign “got our ticket punched out of Iowa”.

He also claimed the result meant half of the voters in Iowa wanted to back someone other than the former president.

Mr DeSantis’ decision comes ahead of a primary in New Hampshire on Tuesday, which Mr Trump is tipped to win.

A new poll by CNN/University of New Hampshire showed Mr Trump will win 50 per cent of the Republican vote on Tuesday, while Ms Haley is trailing well behind with 39 per cent support.