Trump touts endorsement from former rival Perry Johnson after ‘valiant effort’

Former President Trump commended his formal rival Perry Johnson for making a “valiant effort” in the 2024 presidential race, calling his endorsement Monday a “great honor.”

“After a valiant effort, he is now leaving the Race for President to do other things, which I have no doubt he will be very successful,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social. “It is a great honor for me to have received his Full Endorsement.”

Johnson announced last week that he would be suspend his long-shot bid for the White House, while blasting the Republican National Committee (RNC) after he didn’t make the debate stage.

The Michigan businessman — who ran a mostly self-funded campaign — announced on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that he would endorse Trump.

“Having suspended my campaign, I am officially endorsing @realDonaldTrump for President of the United States,” Johnson said in his post. “We must beat @joebiden to save this country and Donald Trump is the only candidate who can do it.”

Johnson said he supported Trump in his 2016 and 2020 races and is going to assist the former president’s efforts in the upcoming election.

Trump, Johnson said, is the only candidate left in the race “who can provide a solution to our nation’s economic, foreign policy and social crises.”

In his response, Trump said he would “make Perry very proud.”

“Perry Johnson is a brilliant Businessman who has enjoyed great success,” Trump said in his post. “Above all, he loves our Country!”

“I will make Perry very proud of this decision, because we will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he concluded.

Johnson, who announced his bid in March, struggled in national polling and failed to make the cut in the first two GOP debates.

Last year, he failed to get on the ballot for the Michigan gubernatorial race after the court ruled he used fake signatures.