Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has withdrawn from the 2024 US presidential race and endorsed Donald Trump, ending a campaign that once positioned him as a leading Republican contender.
In a video released on Sunday, Mr DeSantis said he did not "have a clear path to victory" ahead of the New Hampshire primary, where polls placed him in single digits. He said his campaign had "left it all out on the field" and acknowledged disagreements with Mr Trump, but argued the former president was "superior" to Joe Biden.
Mr DeSantis's exit leaves Nikki Haley as Mr Trump's last remaining challenger. She said she was the "only one" able to beat Mr Biden, and described a head-to-head with Mr Trump as what her campaign had wanted. The two face each other in New Hampshire on Tuesday.
Mr Trump, speaking to supporters, called Mr DeSantis a "really terrific person" who "ran a really good campaign". His campaign urged Republicans to unite behind him, describing Ms Haley as "the candidate of the globalists and Democrats". Mr DeSantis also criticised Ms Haley as a member of "the old Republican guard of yesteryear".
Mr DeSantis finished second in the Iowa caucuses with 21% to Mr Trump's 51%, narrowly ahead of Ms Haley on 19%. His decision to withdraw avoids a potential third-place finish in New Hampshire, where Ms Haley had focused more resources. The withdrawal surprised some of his own staff, who had confirmed election night plans the previous day.
