Top GOPer backs Don

House solid for him

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) threw his support behind Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination Wednesday, solidifying House GOP leadership behind the former president.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (La.), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (La.), Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (NY) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson (NC) all previously endorsed Trump.

Emmer had previously indicated he might not endorse any candidate, and only announced his support after Scalise came out for Trump on Tuesday.

“Democrats have made clear they will use every tool in their arsenal to try and keep Joe Biden and his failed policies in power,” Emmer said on X. “We cannot let them. It’s time for Republicans to unite behind our party’s clear frontrunner, which is why I am proud to endorse Donald J. Trump for President.”

Emmer also endorsed Trump in 2016 and 2020, but the two have not had a smooth relationship recently.

Trump blasted Emmer when he was running for House speaker to replace Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in October, calling him a “globalist RINO [Republican in name only].” Emmer’s bid collapsed shortly after.

The endorsements by Scalise and Emmer come less than two weeks before the Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses, where polls show Trump, 77, dominating his rivals.

Blowout hopes

He has 51.3% support of GOPers in the Hawkeye State, well ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (18.6%) and former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley (16.1%), according to polling averages complied by RealClearPolitics.

Trump’s campaign hopes a blowout win in Iowa will demonstrate to Republican voters there is no other credible contender for the nomination, and is attempting to turn out as many new caucusgoers as possible to achieve that.

Sen. Tom Cotton (Ark.), one of the strongest foreign policy voices in the party, also endorsed Trump on Wednesday.