Congressman Michael Waltz endorses Donald Trump for 2024 presidential race

Congressman Michael Waltz has joined a parade of Florida Republican U.S. House members to endorse the 2024 presidential campaign of Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Waltz released a statement that did not mention the 34-count indictment brought by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleging fraud related to Trump's alleged hush payments made to an adult film actress. Instead, he painted a picture of a "disastrous" United States under President Joe Biden.

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"Inflation is rampant, our southern border is wide open, China is on the rise and embarrassing us on the global stage, the left have wasted trillions of dollars, and the Washington bureaucracy is worse than ever before," Waltz said, adding the United States needs an "experienced and proven" president.

Waltz sings Trump's praises

"President Trump secured our southern border, created 7 million jobs with record-low unemployment, brought manufacturing back to the U.S., made America energy independent and affordable, brokered historic Middle East peace deals, destroyed the ISIS caliphate, launched the Space Force, took out (Islamic Revolutionary Guard commander Qasem) Soleimani, gave veterans choice, and put measures in place to stop China’s march towards global dominance."

Waltz represents Florida's 6th District, including northern Volusia County plus Flagler County and other areas to the north and west. This was the district Gov. Ron DeSantis − an unannounced but widely expected presidential contender − represented in Congress from 2013 until 2019.

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Waltz joins eight other U.S. House members from Florida to endorse Trump, including Cory Mills, who represents southern Volusia County. Others include Vern Buchanan, John Rutherford, Brian Mast, Greg Steube, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, and Anna Paulina Luna.

Rutherford, former Jacksonville sheriff, said Trump's indictment is one of the reasons he supports the former president.

"The systemic targeting of Americans with conservative ideals, especially our 45th (president), disgraces our nation's legacy. As strong Republicans, we must restore law, order, and justice to our country, and President Trump is the right person to do it," he said.

Waltz, who in 2016 was featured in an ad attacking Trump for dodging the Vietnam War and "serving only himself," has long since reversed that position. He backed Trump as the 2016 GOP nominee and has since earned Trump's endorsement.

"The many crises facing our country demand bold leadership like President Trump has demonstrated," Waltz said. "Now more than ever we need him back in the White House to bring back U.S. leadership and credibility."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Michael Waltz latest Florida congressmen to back Donald Trump in '24