RON DeSantis has officially dropped out of the presidential race.
The Florida governor posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday to announce the suspension of his campaign in a video, where he referenced former United Kingdom Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts," DeSantis wrote in the post's caption.
In the video, he explained his feelings about the importance of his campaign and his role as Florida's governor.
DeSantis later noted that he would endorse former President Donald Trump for the presidency in 2024 after he decided to step back.
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"We can, in fact, succeed again as a nation — nobody worked harder, and we left it all out on the field," the Florida governor said of his campaign run.
He added that he couldn't ask his supporters for more if there wasn't a "clear path to victory."
"It's clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance," DeSantis continued.
"They watched his presidency get stymied by relentless resistance, and they see Democrats using lawfare this day to attack him."
"Trump is superior to the current incumbent, Joe Biden," DeSantis added.
He also slammed GOP candidate Nikki Haley, claiming she represents the "old Republican guard."
"I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee, and I will honor that pledge — he has my endorsement because we can not go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear — a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents," DeSantis said.
"The days of putting Americans last, of cow-towing to large corporations, of caving to woke ideology, are over."
HALEY AND TRUMP SPEAK OUT
Despite DeSantis' criticisms on Sunday, Haley had warm words for her competitor while speaking to supporters about the update, as The U.S. Sun reported.
"Now, we just heard that Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the race," Haley noted over cheers.
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"I would like to say to Ron that he ran a great race, he's been a good governor, and we wish him well.
"Having said that — it’s now one fella and one lady left."
The Trump campaign also issued an official statement late Sunday afternoon, acknowledging DeSantis' endorsement.
"With only a few days left until President Donald J. Trump’s victory in New Hampshire, we are honored by the endorsement from Governor Ron DeSantis and so many other former presidential candidates," it read.
"It is now time for all Republicans to rally behind President Trump to defeat Crooked Joe Biden and end his disastrous presidency."
The statement also slammed Haley.
"Nikki Haley is the candidate of the globalists and Democrats who will do everything to stop the America First movement," it continued.
"From higher taxes, to decimating Social Security and Medicare, and to open borders, she represents the views of Democrats more than the views of Republicans."
"It's time to choose wisely," The Trump campaign added.
'PACK YOUR BAGS'
DeSantis' decision to take himself out of the race comes only days after The U.S. Sun's exclusive conversation with former White House secretary Sean Spicer, in which he claimed the Florida governor had "just hit a brick wall" after the Iowa caucus.
“It’s hard to run as an American First candidate when Trump is still in the race to fill a role that has already been filled,” Spicer said of DeSantis.
“It was always going to be challenging to run as the heir apparent to a guy who is still running.”
Even so, Spicer said it wasn't a mistake on the Florida governor's part in deciding to run, given his success in the Sunshine State.
He nearly won unanimously at Florida's gubernatorial election in November 2022 and was hailed by some as the perfect alternative to former President Trump for the presidency.
Trump has been indicted four times on a multitude of allegations.
“Sometimes you have to strike when the iron is hot, and there’s no question he was hot,” Spicer told The U.S. Sun.
“DeSantis has just hit a brick wall. He was boxed out by Trump."
“Donald Trump has not only bounced him out because voters prefer Trump over DeSantis. Trump turned his firepower on DeSantis as his political enemy," Spicer argued.
“My advice would be, ‘Pack your bags, get back to Tallahassee [Florida] as quick as you can, and save your money for a rainy day.'"
It seems DeSantis may have followed Spicer's recommendation ahead of the New Hampshire primary on January 23.
