Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders dodges question when asked if she will endorse Trump in 2024

‘Right now, my focus isn’t 2024,’ says Sanders, a former Trump aide

Stuti Mishra
Monday 16 January 2023 06:25 GMT
Comments
Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Donald Trump at a campaign event at Mar-a-Lago
Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Donald Trump at a campaign event at Mar-a-Lago (Twitter / Sarah Huckabee Sanders)

The new Republican governor of Arkansas and former aide of Donald Trump, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, appeared to dodge the question when she was asked whether she would be endorsing the former president’s bid for the 2024 election.

In an interview on Fox News on Sunday, Ms Sanders was questioned by Shannon Bream on whether she plans to support Mr Trump, who she served as White House Press Secretary before 2020.

“Your bio, on your official page as Governor, describes you as a ‘trusted confidant of President Trump,’” Bream said. “Have you talked to him about his ’24 run? Will you endorse him in that?”

Ms Sanders, stressed that she has a “great relationship” with the former president and praised his leadership. But she stopped short of endorsing his bid to be re-elected, saying her “focus isn’t 2024”.

“I love the president, have a great relationship with him,” Ms Sanders told Fox News.

“I know our country would be infinitely better off if he was in office right now instead of Joe Biden,” she added.

“But right now, my focus isn’t 2024. It’s focusing here in Arkansas and doing what we can to empower the people of this state, and make sure that I’m delivering on the promises that I laid out over the course of the last two years.”

She was pressed by the anchor to explain whether she would be open to endorsing the former president in the future.

“What kind of timeline would you have for making a decision?” Bream asked. “Do you want to see who else gets into the primary? Will you wait for the nominee?”

Ms Sanders again said: “My focus isn’t on 2024.

“It’s on what we can deliver in this legislative session. I’m not going to set an arbitrary timeline. I’m not really focused on that at all.”

Bream then asked her about the possibility of her being floated as a potential vice presidential candidate.

“You’ve just gotten sworn in,” she said. “Do you already feel the pressure of future speculation?”

“I feel the pressure of delivering this legislative session,” Ms Sanders said. “That’s the only thing that our team, and that I am focused on, is delivering on what we laid out to do.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in