In the developing race for the 2024 U.S. presidential nomination, two prominent Tennessee senators, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty, have publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump.
Their endorsements come as lawmakers are beginning to choose sides in anticipation of the upcoming election.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican, spoke on Monday about her support for Trump, highlighting the contrasts between the current Biden administration and the Trump era, The Washington Times reports.
She emphasized inflation and the “socialist totalitarian agenda” under President Biden, compared to what she described as a more prosperous time during Trump’s tenure before the pandemic.
“Under President Trump, our economy was booming, unemployment was down, gas prices were low, and inflation was under control. Our border was secure, our adversaries feared us, and our military was strong,” Blackburn said.
She went on to express her confidence in Trump’s ability to address pressing issues, stating, “On day one, President Trump will get to work lowering costs for hardworking working families, get our economy back on track, keep inflation under control, secure the border, and put violent criminals behind bars. He did it once, and he will do it again.”
Senator Bill Hagerty, also a Republican, announced his endorsement of Trump’s 2024 re-election bid on Sunday, according to The Washington Examiner.
Trump had previously supported Hagerty in the 2020 Tennessee Senate primary, where he served as the 45th president’s ambassador to Japan, and ultimately won the race to become the general election candidate in the deeply conservative state.
Hagerty’s endorsement appears to reciprocate the support he received from Trump.
“It is my honor to give my whole-hearted endorsement to Donald J. Trump to be the next President of the United States,” the Tennessee senator tweeted. “I was honored to previously serve in his Administration.”
In his endorsement, Hagerty praised Trump’s focus on border security, energy policies, and the growth of blue-collar jobs during his time in office. He also criticized President Joe Biden’s leadership approach.
“President Trump stood up against Communist China, brought an end to Obama’s failed approach of ‘leading from behind,’ and revived our military and law enforcement as they witnessed support from their Commander-in-Chief that had been lacking — and has now gone missing again after two years of Joe Biden’s presidency,” Hagerty wrote.
“The mandate for a strong America has never been clearer, and I look forward to working again with President Trump to help our great nation find its way back from the precipice to the exceptional role we can and must play as a nation.”
