President Trump hosted Rep. Jeff Van Drew at the White House on Thursday and officially announced the Democrat representing New Jersey's 2nd congressional district will become a Republican. Van Drew gave Trump his full endorsement, with Trump returning the favor.
"I believe that this is just a better fit for me. This is who I am. It's who I always was," Van Drew said about switching parties. "But there was more tolerance of moderate Democrats, of Blue Dog Democrats, of conservative Democrats. And I think that's going away."
"One, you have my undying support, and always," Van Drew added.
"And by the way, same way. I'm endorsing him," Trump replied. "Ok, we're endorsing him."
Vice President Mike Pence and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) echoed Trump's endorsement.
"And the last thing I will say, one of my heroes...Ronald Reagan and when he said, 'I didn't leave my party. My party left me.' And I'm saying the same thing," Van Drew said.
.@CongressmanJVD to President Trump: "You have my undying support." pic.twitter.com/UR4fo9BGOM
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 19, 2019
RT to welcome @CongressmanJVD to the Republican Party.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) December 19, 2019
Look forward to working with you, Jeff!
Van Drew defected to Republicans over the impeachment House Democrats rammed through. Cracks started to appear after he and one other Democrat voted against the impeachment inquiry rules, saying it was too slanted towards the majority. Van Drew and Rep. Collin Peterson (MN) were the two Democrats who voted against the two impeachment articles on Wednesday.