House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) gave his official endorsement for president of the United States to former President Donald Trump on Tuesday. In his reasoning, Scalise said that when Trump was president, "American workers and families were thriving." 

"The economy was strong and interest rates were low — grocery costs were affordable, and families could afford to buy a house and provide for their children," Scalise continued. "The border was secure and crime was down. America had secure energy policies, keeping gas and utility prices low."

Scalise said President Biden "has driven our country into chaos with skyrocketing costs, and hardworking taxpayers are the ones paying the price," and that under his administration, "gas prices more than doubled, housing affordability reached all-time lows, mortgage rates doubled, inflation hit the highest level in 40 years, and interest rates are at the highest level in 22 years."

"Hardworking Americans are fed up — consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level ever under President Biden," Scalise said.

Scalise went on further, touting Trump's successes during his first term as president, but also citing all of the failures of the administration of President Joe Biden. Scalise hit Biden the hardest over his administration's dismal record on illegal immigration and border security. Scalise said that fiscal year 2023 was far worse than 2022 with the most illegal immigrant encounters in history, along with the enormous amounts of drugs being confiscated along the border as well. 

"In this race, there is one man who has a proven track record of being able to save our country and get us back on track: Donald Trump," Scalise said. "He has done it once before, and I know he will do it again."

"I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024, and I look forward to working with President Trump and a Republican House and Senate to fight for those families who are struggling under the weight of Biden’s failed policies," he concluded.

In response to Scalise's endorsement, Sarafina Chitika, the press secretary for the Democratic National Committee, said the usual DNC line regarding "MAGA extremists." 

"MAGA House Republicans keep showing America they’ve turned the House into little more than an arm of Donald Trump’s campaign – so it’s no surprise Steve Scalise, who called himself ‘David Duke without the baggage,’ is joining the parade of House extremists backing Trump’s bid."

"Scalise’s top priority has always been pushing Trump’s unpopular agenda: He voted against certifying the 2020 election, is hellbent on banning abortion nationwide, and worked with Trump to try to rip away Americans’ health care," Chitika said.

Even with the endorsement from Scalise, the election drama continues to unfold for Donald Trump, with multiple states having either removed his name from primary election ballots or are considering taking said action in the future, with two notable cases being Colorado and Maine. Colorado took Trump off the ballot, but their state Supreme Court later reversed the decision; however, that did not stop Maine from removing Trump from the ballot. 

With the New Year officially underway, and the 2024 election cycle now in full swing, the roadmap for Trump is murky as he attempts to navigate states trying to take his name off ballots, his legal troubles, and his ability to maintain a steady presence on the campaign trail. Though the year is just getting started, more House and Senate Republicans will likely come out and endorse Trump for president now that House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has come out with his endorsement.