Donald Trump now has the endorsement of two members of Congress: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY).
From Politico:
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) told POLITICO on Wednesday that he will support Trump for the Republican nomination, becoming one of the first members of Congress to express public support for the Manhattan businessman who is the prohibitive frontrunner after his victory in Tuesday's Nevada caucuses.
Also on Wednesday, Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) told The Buffalo News that he is backing Trump, saying he has the "guts and fortitude" to get jobs back from China and to take on foreign threats such as Islamic State and North Korea.
In an interview on Wednesday, Hunter told POLITICO that Trump has the strength needed for the job. "We don't need a policy wonk as president. We need a leader as president," Hunter said, adding that he has told his colleagues much of the same thing. "I'm in, and I've been in," he said in a telephone interview.
Noting that he and Trump see eye-to-eye on a number of issues, including border security, manufacturing and national security, Hunter said he also likes Trump for another reason. "I don't think Trump wants my endorsement," Hunter said, while also remarking that he has not heard from the candidate himself. "And that's one reason why I like him," he added. Trump said earlier Wednesday that "endorsements mean very little."
Some on Twitter were quick to comment that these endorsements were likely an attempt to vault to a higher position:
Duncan Hunter might as well be waving a banner saying MAKE ME VEEP MAKE ME VEEP
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 24, 2016
Anyhow, congrats to cabinet secretaries Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) February 24, 2016
Rep. Hunter was recently in the news for vaping during a hearing.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member