OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Ryan Binkley, a Republican running for president, withdrew from the contest on Tuesday and swiftly endorsed former President Donald Trump.
The Texas pastor and businessman who launched a longshot bid for president released a statement thanking his friends, family, campaign staff, more than 80,000 financial backers, and hundreds of volunteers.
“Today, I am suspending my campaign for the Presidency of the United States of America and offering my endorsement and unwavering support for President Trump,” Binkley wrote on X.
“When I began this journey, it was with a message in my heart that our country needs to awaken to the fact that the unsustainable deficit spending and debt path we are on will undoubtedly lead us to a generational economic disruption,” Binkley wrote Tuesday.
“I believe that we can get off that path and begin a journey to balance the federal budget by transforming and demonopolizing the healthcare system which has been bankrupting our nation. I also felt deeply that as bad as the U.S. fiscal and monetary policy is, the political corruption and cultural divide in our country is an even greater threat. Throughout my campaign, I have seen our party struggle to find a place for a new vision while weighing the corrupt allegations and indictments against President Trump. He will need everyone’s support, and he will have mine moving forward,” he added.
Binkley, who is currently the CEO/president of Generational Equity Group, a merger and acquisitions business advisory based in Texas, and a co-founder of the company, launched his presidential bid last April.
“Currently, our nation is lost, divided, and in financial trouble. Here’s the good news: united, we can rise to change it as we restore our faith in God, freedom, and each other,” Binkley’s website said.
“While it is time for me to go back to my family, business, and church and care for the responsibilities I have been given, I remain steadfast in my commitment to my plans for the economy, border security, and healthcare,” Binkley’s message continued Tuesday.
“I look forward to considering other ways I can make an impact and promote my policy positions. Thank you again for being with us on this journey. Let’s continue to pray for our nation, and our leaders. When we look to each other for wisdom and strength, our future can be better than we can imagine. I look forward to seeing what tomorrow holds,” he added.
BREAKING: Less-known and rarely mentioned Republican presidential candidate Ryan Binkley (@RyanBinkley) ends race for the White House and endorses Donald Trump.
In a statement minutes ago, Mr. Binkley wrote, “Today, I am suspending my campaign for the Presidency of the United… pic.twitter.com/pB5u86rfnh
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) February 27, 2024
The announcement comes as voting is underway in both the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries in Michigan.
Many who disagree with President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict are pushing Democrats to vote “uncommitted” in protest.
Trump is moving forward in his pursuit of the GOP nomination over former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, having just finished sweeping the early-voting states.
Before Super Tuesday and the state’s presidential primary, Michigan Republicans are pessimistic about Haley’s chances in the 2024 GOP primary.
Even some of the attendees at one of her two events this week in Michigan, which preceded the Republican conventions on Saturday and the Great Lakes State’s Republican primary on Tuesday, acknowledged that the GOP needed to unite behind Trump to defeat President Joe Biden in November’s general election.
In light of Haley’s 20-point loss to Trump in the South Carolina Republican primary, Kyle Schimeck, 26, who attended the former governor’s event in Troy on Sunday, believes that Haley ought to have halted her campaign last weekend.
“When your home state is also saying, ‘We’re going Trump,’ I think that’s when it’s like, ‘OK, time to drop out,’” the Sterling Heights high school history teacher told the Washington Examiner.
“Four straight losses is pretty telling,” said voter Richard Shelton, referring to the Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina primary contests. “It’s pretty clear that Trump is going to win again and so it’s time to start bringing the party in together.”
