Rick Scott: It's Time To Unite Behind Donald Trump

 An open border with terrorists, criminals, and drugs pouring into our country. A botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that stranded thousands of Americans and our allies behind enemy lines, left billions of dollars' worth of U.S. military equipment in the hands of terrorists, and took the lives of 13 heroic U.S. service members. A military that is more focused on pronouns than lethality. The complete destruction of women's sports. People getting paid not to go to work. Crime rampant in major U.S. cities and people who break laws no longer being held accountable. A nation where criminals have more rights than victims. Appeasement of Xi Jinping and murderous dictators eroding freedom, democracy, and stability around the world. And now, Israel is under attack and at war after Joe Biden reduced oil sanctions and unfroze $6 billion for the Iranian regime. Israelis and Americans have been tortured and killed and are still being held hostage at the hands of Iran-financed terrorists.

Forty years ago, Ronald Reagan campaigned for reelection with the phrase "morning in America." It was a message that resonated with Americans from all walks of life who were recovering from the malaise of the Jimmy Carter years. Ronald Reagan wouldn't recognize our country today.

I am often asked whether this is the beginning of the end of America. It will be, if we stop fighting and cede our country to the incompetent, radical Democrats who are destroying the fundamental values that make America great. We of course do not even know if Joe Biden is lucid enough to be aware that his administration is destroying America. Biden's presidency has become an embarrassment to his political party and to our entire nation.

I am optimistic that we can return America to its rightful position of economic and military strength and the undisputed moral leader of the free world, but only with strong leadership in the White House. That is why I support my friend President Donald J. Trump to be the 47th president of the United States and encourage every Republican to unite behind his efforts to win back the White House.

It's time for the Republican Party to come together, behind one candidate, and declare with one voice that we are united in our efforts to defeat Joe Biden and rescue America.

I know most of the candidates running for president, and I respect their decision to put themselves through this very difficult process. They've made their case to voters, laid out their agendas and their plans, and told their stories. Make no mistake: every single one of them would be a better president than Joe Biden. But Republican voters are making their voices heard loud and clear. They want to return to the leadership of Donald Trump.

President Trump will be our nominee because America was safer and more prosperous when he led our nation. Our economy was booming, and we were achieving energy independence. He took on Communist China and stood up to dictators in Latin America. He did more for Israel than any other president in our history, bringing stability and peace in the Middle East through the Abraham Accords, while Joe Biden is undoing all the work his administration accomplished.

As governor and senator, I worked hand in hand with President Trump to accomplish great things for Florida. When Donald Trump was in the White House, Florida had a partner in the Oval Office. That's not true anymore under President Biden. President Trump and I accomplished a lot together, and we have so much more work to do to fix what's been broken by President Biden.

Biden has failed to stand up to the illegitimate communist regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. He has failed to secure our border and protect Florida jobs and our agriculture industry from unfair and illegal trade practices in Mexico. This week, I asked FBI Director Christopher Wray if the country was safer under Biden and his silence was deafening. I know Donald Trump will work with us to fix these problems.

I'd never demand or even ask that another candidate drop out of a political contest. That's a decision for every candidate to make for themselves. But I'm supporting Donald Trump for president because the stakes are too high. The future of our country depends on our ability to come together and throw Joe Biden and these radical Democrats, who are intent on destroying our country, out of office.

Here's the honest truth. It's not morning in America today. It's midnight in America. In my view there is one person running who has the strength to bring America back, who is well-positioned to win the Republican primary, and who will win the general election. And that is why I am supporting Donald Trump for president.

Rick Scott, a Republican, is the junior U.S. Senator from Florida.

https://www.newsweek.com/rick-scott-its-time-unite-behind-donald-trump-opinion-1840060