SD Gov. Noem backs Trump: ‘The fighter our nation needs’
RAPID CITY, S.D.—Gov. Kristi Noem Endorses Former President Donald Trump’s Re-Election Bid
On September 8, in front of a crowd of thousands at a GOP rally in Rapid City, Gov. Kristi Noem officially endorsed former President Donald Trump for re-election. She passionately declared, “He is the leader, the fighter that our country needs. He has my full and complete endorsement for president of the United States. I will do everything I can to help him win and save this country.”
Related Stories
Following her endorsement, Gov. Noem introduced President Trump as the rally headliner. He expressed his gratitude, calling her “a warrior for American values.” President Trump acknowledged that while he receives many endorsements, some meaningless, Gov. Noem’s endorsement holds significant weight.
Speculation has been swirling that Gov. Noem may become President Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, fueled by her planned endorsement. However, during a recent interview with Newsmax, she stated that it was too early to have such discussions.
Trump supporter Jeb Bordewyk, who was eagerly waiting outside The Monument ice arena, believes that Gov. Noem is likely to announce her endorsement of the former president. He confidently stated, “I don’t see her going any other direction.”
Gov. Noem’s endorsement of President Trump makes her only the fourth Republican governor to do so during the 2024 presidential campaign. Out of 26 Republican governors, only three have publicly thrown their support behind the former president: Alaska’s Mike Dunleavy, South Carolina’s Henry McMaster, and West Virginia’s Jim Justice.
Interestingly, Gov. Noem’s endorsement contrasts with the stance of South Dakota’s two U.S. Senators. Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds have both announced their support for Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, one of President Trump’s distant Republican rivals.
According to the RealClear Politics average, President Trump maintains a commanding lead in opinion polls, drawing almost 53 percent support. His closest rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, trail far behind with 14 percent and 6.6 percent support, respectively. All other GOP presidential hopefuls, including Sen. Scott, are polling at less than 5 percent.
This rally marks President Trump’s first full public speech in several weeks. Despite facing legal troubles, including a fourth criminal indictment, he remains undeterred in his pursuit of becoming the Republican presidential nominee for the third time.
The “Monumental Leaders” rally, benefiting the South Dakota GOP, also marks President Trump’s first appearance in the state since his memorable speech at nearby Mount Rushmore on July 3, 2020. This pre-Independence Day celebration, complete with fireworks, garnered significant attention.
South Dakota often goes overlooked by politicians due to its small number of electoral votes and late primary election, set for June 4, 2024. However, Gov. Noem admires President Trump for his atypical approach to politics. She stated, “We’ve invited many other people to come to our state and talk to us, and they keep saying how insignificant South Dakota is; it’s not important to be in South Dakota right now. And what I love about President Trump is that he said, ‘I will be there.’ He doesn’t ever overlook the little people. He doesn’t say states like South Dakota aren’t important. He knows every single person in this country is important. And that’s why people support him.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
