Trump Endorsed by All House GOP Leaders

(Left) Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks to guests at a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, on Dec. 19, 2023. (Scott Olson/Getty Images); (Right) House Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) at a press conference following a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Sept. 27, 2023. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

House GOP Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) has endorsed former President Donald Trump’s comeback bid—the last House GOP leadership holdout to endorse the former president, who dominates the polls.

“[President Joe Biden’s] failed policies have left Minnesotans to grapple with double-digit inflation, higher taxes, and a border crisis that has turned every community into a border community,” he said in a Jan. 3 statement posted on X, formerly Twitter.

“Minnesotans and all Americans deserve better,” Mr. Emmer wrote. “It is time for Republicans to come together in support of a leader who has what it takes to get our country back on track. We stand together to endorse Donald J. Trump for President.”

President Trump has captured the endorsements of all senior members of House GOP leadership: Mr. Emmer, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), and GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.).

Mr. Emmer endorsed President Trump despite the former president torpedoing his bid to succeed former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as House speaker.

In an Oct. 24, 2023, post on his social media site, Truth Social, President Trump objected to Mr. Emmer’s becoming the speaker-designee: “I have many wonderful friends wanting to be Speaker of the House, and some are truly great warriors. RINO Tom Emmer, who I do not know well, is not one of them. He never respected the power of a Trump endorsement or the breadth and scope of MAGA—Make America Great Again!

“He fought me all the way, and actually spent more time defending Ilhan Omar than he did me. He is totally out-of-touch with Republican voters.”

“I believe he has now learned his lesson because he is saying that he is Pro-Trump all the way, but who can ever be sure?” the former president wrote.

“Has he only changed because that’s what it takes to win? The Republican Party cannot take that chance, because that’s not where the America First Voters are. Voting for a globalist RINO like Tom Emmer would be a tragic mistake!”

President Trump reversed course after having said he wouldn’t insert himself into the race to succeed Mr. McCarthy, who was stripped of the gavel on Oct. 3, 2023.

“I’m trying to stay out of that as much as possible,” he told reporters.

President Trump noted that Mr. Emmer called him.

“He’s my biggest fan now because he called me yesterday and told me he’s my biggest fan,” he joked.

President Trump and his base have expressed criticism of Mr. Emmer, ranging from his being in favor of gay marriage to the debt ceiling agreement to his being against the Electoral College.

Mr. Emmer certified the 2020 election, which President Trump has claimed was stolen from him. Moreover, Mr. McCarthy endorsed Mr. Emmer—a move seen as pro-establishment.

Mr. Emmer, who represents Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District, has been in Congress since 2015.