Donald Trump’s resounding triumph in South Carolina has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with significant endorsements and funding shifts marking the aftermath. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell’s right-hand man threw his support behind the former president, while a major Koch-backed organization withdrew its support for Nikki Haley.
Senate Minority Whip John Thune, expressing his endorsement for Trump, stated to Fox News, “The primary results in South Carolina make clear that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for president in this year’s pivotal presidential election.” Thune emphasized, “The choice before the American people is crystal clear: It’s Donald Trump or Joe Biden.”
Trump promptly shared Thune’s endorsement on his Truth Social platform, underscoring the momentum behind his campaign.
Furthermore, Trump highlighted the decision by Americans for Prosperity Action, a Charles and David Koch family-supported group, to cease funding for Haley following her substantial loss to Trump in her home state. Trump’s response on social media was characteristically direct, branding the move as a sign of being “played for suckers right from the beginning.”
In an internal email obtained by Politico, AFP Action’s Emily Seidel elucidated the rationale behind the decision, citing doubts about the group’s ability to significantly impact Haley’s electoral prospects. Seidel emphasized that they did not believe “any outside group can make a material difference to widen her path to victory.”
