Former President Donald Trump continued his dominance of the GOP presidential race on Friday after South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem endorsed him for 2024.
Noem announced her endorsement of Trump in a Friday night rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, at the South Dakota Republican Party’s (GOP) Monumental Leaders Rally.
🚨BREAKING: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem endorses Trump for President.
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 9, 2023
“It is my honor to present to you the man in the arena,” Noem said of Trump as she introduced the former president. “He is a man of significance. He is the leader, the fighter that our country needs. He has my full and complete endorsement for president of the United States of America. I will do everything I can to help him win and save this country.”
The governor revealed that South Dakota GOP Chairman John Wiik organized the rally and invited GOP candidates vying for the Republican presidential ticket. However, Trump was the only one of those candidates who turned up at the rally.
Trump Rally in South Dakota Today.
Kristi Noem NEVER shutdown her State during Lockdown and this is what she had to say about Trump: “I talked openly that he is the candidate I’m supporting… Of course he’s absolutely the best choice for us, I don’t know of any other candidate… pic.twitter.com/kQpu58xitP— ꪻꫝể ꪻꫝể (@TheThe1776) September 8, 2023
“Chairman John Wiik had this fantastic idea to bring Republicans in our state together to rally us around our shared values and principles,” Noem explained. “I loved the idea and told him I would do what I could to help. We started discussing inviting all the candidates running to be President of the United States. Tim Scott was asked… and he declined. Vivek Ramaswamy was invited, and he turned the chairman down. Other candidates were asked, and all told us they had better things to do. But when President Trump was invited to come be with you tonight, he said, ‘I’ll be there!’”
Noem maintained that Trump’s decision to show up at the rally is one of the reasons why everyone loves him. The governor added that Trump does not wait for consultants or the media to tell him Priorities and what is important.
President @realDonaldTrump brings hope to America that our nation can be great again.
His message of economic success and national security resonates with South Dakotans. We’re excited to welcome him back to our great state tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/1cSntkHIgM
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) September 8, 2023
“To him (Trump), every American is worth fighting for,” she added. “No one is better than anyone else. No one deserves to be treated differently than anyone else. And he will never forget about us, the little people in the little states that are the backbone of this country. He shows up for every American and fights for us every.”
The ONLY person in this race who will put America back on its foundation is @realDonaldTrump.
He has my full and complete endorsement. I will do everything in my power to help him win to save this great country. pic.twitter.com/9zn5yxjSRG
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) September 9, 2023
Noem, who has been touted as a potential Trump running mate in 2024, added that the former president is the only person she trusts to do what needs to be done regarding the border and illegal immigration.
