Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09) formally endorsed former President Donald Trump and his 2024 campaign for the White House on Wednesday, becoming the first congressman from Virginia to endorse the former president’s bid.
Griffith made his endorsement during a radio interview with John Fredericks, the publisher of The Virginia Star, who called it “a huge endorsement” for Trump.
“I am officially endorsing Donald Trump for president, and happy to do so, and look forward to four years of the next Trump administration,” Griffith announced on “The John Fredericks Show,” adding that Trump “will be so much better than the Biden administration has been.”
Noting the early timing of his endorsement, Griffith told Fredericks that “Trump is truly in the position of an incumbent” as the last Republican president. He added that “his policies were good,” and the “proof is in the pudding” produced during Trump’s four years in office.
Griffith stressed the close access to the Trump administration enjoyed by Virginia. As an example, Griffith explained that said former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross was able to resolve his district’s trade issues with China within two weeks of Griffith’s initial phone call.
“Wilbur Ross himself got on the phone, then he got on the phone with the Chinese, and over a period of about 10 days to two weeks he got the problem resolved,” Griffith added. “How did I find out about it, was it a press release? No, Wilbur Ross called me on the phone himself and said, ‘Morgan, I’ve got good news.'”
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Fredericks noted that Griffith is Trump’s only endorsement among Virginia’s congressional delegation. Republican Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), Ben Cline (R-VA-06), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) have not made endorsements, while Representative Bob Good (R-VA-05) endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this year.
After Fredericks underscored DeSantis’ string of early endorsements, including Good, Griffith said he hopes Republicans will not hold grudges after the primary concludes.
Griffith said he believes Trump “will be the nominee.” Griffith added that Republicans “shouldn’t vilify people who thought they would vote or endorse one of the other candidates. Those candidates are not the right person for this election, but we shouldn’t be fighting amongst our own.”
The congressman told Fredericks he hopes the Trump campaign will have the nomination “sealed up quickly,” allowing Republicans to “get back to breaking bread with our brothers,” specifically, “those who may disagree a little bit, but they’re not far off the reservation.”
Griffith’s remarks come after edited video surfaced last week that appears to show Good doubting Trump’s conservative credentials and election odds. Those remarks were seized by Good’s primary challenger, Virginia Delegate John McGuire (R-Goochland), who called the representative a “Never Trumper” and a “RINO” in a statement to The Star.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
