Stunning endorsement: DeSantis ally Rep. Byron Donalds backs Trump for president in 2024

• Byron Donalds, who has said he'd be interested in becoming governor of Florida, has endorsed Trump.
• He picked Trump over DeSantis, who has yet to formally announce he's running.

Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a close ally to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024.

"There is only one leader at this time in our nation's history who can seize this moment and deliver what we need — to get us back on track, provide strength and resolve, and Make America Great Again," the conservative Florida congressman said in a statement scooped by ABC News.

Six senators and over three dozen House members have announced they're backing Trump in 2024. But Donalds' endorsement is especially notable because he has been close to DeSantis for years and often appears at events with him.

Donalds introduced the governor and his family on Election Night in Tampa, in a celebratory, widely-watched event in which DeSantis secured a historic, 19-point reelection victory. In that speech, Donalds called DeSantis "America's governor."

Donalds also played 2018 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum when DeSantis, then a little-known congressman, was preparing for his debate, video reviewed by Insider showed.

Further, Donalds told CNN in March that he was open to the possibility of running for governor if DeSantis were to step down to run for president. DeSantis hasn't stated his decision to run, but he'll be term-limited out in Florida in 2026.

DeSantis is expected to make a bid for the GOP presidential nomination official by May or June, once Florida's lawmaking session is over. Florida's current lieutenant governor is Jeanette Nuñez, and if DeSantis is elected president, she would become the first female governor in the state's history.

In November, Donalds predicted on Fox Business that "the next president is going to be a Florida resident," though he declined to specify whether he would support Trump or DeSantis.

"President Trump is the leader in the clubhouse right now," he said. "You have to go with him until you see something else." He added, however, that he thought DeSantis could beat Trump in a primary.

Donalds praised DeSantis during the Megyn Kelly Show on Sirius XM on Wednesday, saying the governor "has done a tremendous job in Florida," though he indicated he thought Trump had the edge against the Democratic agenda.

"Muscle memory, I think, is key," Donalds said. "Donald Trump has been through these fights. He knows where these landmines are and so he can walk in and be effective."

The DeSantis team did not respond to a question over whether Donalds gave the governor a head's up about his Trump endorsement.

Three Republican presidential candidates have formally announced they're running, including former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. More are expected to announce in the coming weeks and months, including former Vice President Mike Pence and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.

DeSantis has been on a book tour since late February to promote his bestselling book, "The Courage to Be Free: Florida's Blueprint for America's Revival." It's considered a soft launch for an eventual campaign.

Donalds, 44, is one of only five Black Republicans in Congress. On Capitol Hill in January, he emerged as a protest candidate to Rep. Kevin McCarthy's speakership bid in January. McCarthy eventually secured enough votes to get the speaker's gavel.

Donalds defended Trump on the Megyn Kelly Show on Wednesday, amid news of the former president's indictment and arraignment.

"The current legal problems have rallied more Republican voters around Donald Trump," Donalds said.