After a huge win Tuesday night in Nevada, Donald Trump received his first congressional endorsement on Wednesday. New York Rep. Chris Collins announced his endorsement of Trump in a statement to the Buffalo News saying “Donald Trump has clearly demonstrated that he has both the guts and the fortitude to return our nation’s jobs stolen by China, take on our enemies like ISIS, Iran, North Korea and Russia. That is why I am proud to endorse him as the next President of the United States.”
Collins was previously endorsing former Florida governor Jeb Bush before he dropped out of the race Saturday night after failing to gain much support in South Carolina. The announcement from the New York congressman comes as Trump’s status as the front-runner in the Republican field becomes even stronger with each successive win — and while many establishment Republicans are gravitating toward Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. Rubio is the runaway leader in endorsements from Republican officeholders among the remaining five GOP candidates.
Collins also argued that Trump’s extensive business background makes him the most qualified contender for the Oval Office.“If we want to get our nation’s economy growing again and deal with the daunting financial fiscal issues threatening America’s future, it’s time to say no to professional politicians and yes to someone who has created jobs and grown a business.” Trump, meanwhile, won his third-consecutive early voting contest late Tuesday evening with victory in Nevada.
Announcing his endorsement a day after Trump’s landslide win in the Nevada caucuses, Collins became one of the first mainstream Republicans in the country to endorse the billionaire developer. Other prominent Trump endorsers include former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown.
If we want to get our nation’s economy growing again and deal with the daunting fiscal issues threatening America’s future, it’s time to say no to professional politicians and yes to someone who has created jobs and grown a business,” Collins said.
In a brief interview this morning, Collins – a millionaire businessman himself – said Trump’s business experience positioned him better for the presidency than did experience as a legislator. Rep. Duncan Hunter also announced he will endorse Donald Trump on Wednesday, becoming the second congressman to publicly support the New York millionaire.
Hunter told POLITICO that Trump has the strength needed for the job. “We don’t need a policy wonk as president. We need a leader as president,” Hunter said, adding that he has told his colleagues much of the same thing. “I’m in, and I’ve been in,” he said in a telephone interview. Hunter sponsored legislation last year that became known by its opponents as the Donald Trump Act, which would have forced local law enforcement in sanctuary cities to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement if they had an undocumented immigrant in custody. During a Good Morning America interview, Trump shot down the power of endorsements saying there were a “waste of time” and that “endorsements mean very little.”
