DeSantis campaign says Trump secured ‘Koch endorsement’ as group backs Haley

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign said former President Donald Trump gained the “Koch endorsement” after a Koch brothers-founded group backed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Americans for Prosperity Action endorsed Haley for president Tuesday, prompting the response from DeSantis’ team.

“DeSantis Campaign Congratulates Donald Trump on Securing Koch Endorsement,” an email from DeSantis’ campaign reads.

Americans for Prosperity was founded by billionaires Charles and David Koch.

“Congratulations to Donald Trump on securing the Koch endorsement,” said Andrew Romeo, DeSantis campaign communications director. “Like clockwork, the pro-open borders, pro-jail break bill establishment is lining up behind a moderate who has no mathematical pathway of defeating the former president.”

“Every dollar spent on Nikki Haley’s candidacy should be reported as an in-kind to the Trump campaign,” he said. “No one has a stronger record of beating the establishment than Ron DeSantis, and this time will be no different.”

Americans for Prosperity Action said Haley is the candidate who can “turn the page on the current political era.”

“[She can] win the Republican primary and defeat Joe Biden next November,” the group’s senior advisor, Emily Seidel, said in a letter. “She has what it takes to lead a policy agenda to take on our nation’s biggest challenges and help ensure our country’s best days are ahead.”

“With the grassroots and data capability we bring to bear in this race, no other organization is better equipped to help her do it,” Seidel said.

The campaign’s comments come as Trump maintains a strong 48% average lead over DeSantis, who polls around 13.7%. Haley polls at around 9.8%.

DeSantis and Haley’s campaign have been trading blows for weeks as the former ambassador surged to third place into the fall. DeSantis recently challenged her to a debate.

The governor’s campaign argued the same point earlier in November, that Haley’s campaign serves to help Trump win the primary over DeSantis.

“It’s clear there is no way Nikki Haley can beat Donald Trump, and every dollar spent on her candidacy is an in-kind to the Trump Campaign,” Romeo said at the time. “Ron DeSantis has the best combination of endorsements, ground game, and message in the early states, which is why the former president continues to attack only him.”