If former President Donald Trump decides to run for president in 2024, no Republican can defeat him, said Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in an interview Wednesday.
It came after Trump endorsed Rubio, the ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, for reelection in 2022.
Rubio described Trump as “the most popular and most influential Republican in America” if the former president runs for the White House in 2024. Trump has not yet made a decision on whether he will run again.
Rubio clarified: “He hasn’t made that decision. It’s still a long way down the road, but if Donald Trump decides to run in 2024 again, he’s going to be the Republican nominee, and I think almost everyone that I’ve talked to would agree with that.”
Last week, Trump endorsed Rubio—a former 2016 GOP presidential opponent—for his reelection.
“Marco has been a tireless advocate for the people of Florida,” Trump said in a statement. “Marco will never let the great people of Florida, or our Country, down!”
The former president said that he was pleased with how Rubio headed the Senate Intelligence Committee with Republicans had the majority in the upper chamber.
“He also ruled that ‘President Trump was in no way involved with Russia,’ as he presided over the Senate Intelligence Committee on the FAKE Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” Trump, whose primary residence is in Palm Beach, added in his statement, which was released via his Save America PAC.
Referring to the former president’s endorsement, Rubio said in the Newsmax interview: “This is an extra-special endorsement because he’s a resident and voter in Florida. So I don’t just need his endorsement, I need his vote and the votes of all his family who are also moving to Florida.”
The former commander-in-chief’s endorsement came as there was speculation his daughter, Ivanka Trump, would possibly challenge Rubio for his seat. Ivanka responded to those reports, telling news outlets that “Marco has been a tremendous advocate for working families, a good personal friend, and I know he will continue to drive meaningful progress on issues we both care deeply about.”