Tim Scott endorses Donald Trump
Sen. Tim Scott endorsed Donald Trump at a rally in New Hampshire on Friday night.
"We need a president who will close our southern border today. We need Donald Trump," the South Carolina Republican said to cheers at a Trump event in Concord. "We need a president who will unite our country. We need Donald Trump. We need a president who will protect your Social Security and my momma’s social security," Scott said, repeating Trump's name several times for effect.
The senator had competed against Trump for the Republican nomination before bowing out amid a failure to gain traction in the polls.
His decision to back Trump was a blow to Nikki Haley, a fellow South Carolina Republican, who is aiming to have a strong showing in New Hampshire’s upcoming primary. Haley appointed Scott to the Senate in 2012 while serving as governor of the Palmetto state.
The New York Times was the first to report Scott's decision.
Haley responded news of the endorsement while on the trail on Friday.
“Interesting that Trump’s lining up with all the Washington insiders when he claimed he wanted to drain the swamp,” she said. “But the fellas are gonna do what the fellas are gonna do.”