Ex-Trump GOP primary rival Asa Hutchinson rejects endorsing presumptive nominee 

Former Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson revealed Monday that he will not be backing Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

“I have not endorsed Donald Trump for president, and I will not do so,” the former Arkansas governor wrote in a USA Today op-ed. 

“This is a costly and difficult position to take,” Hutchinson added, noting his long career in Republican politics. 

Hutchinson, 73, accused GOP leaders and elected officials of “clicking their heels in obedience” of Trump, 77, who he said has “redefined the GOP in his image and has put personal ego above the common good.”

The former GOP presidential candidate slammed the party’s presumptive 2024 nominee for backing policies that include “the ancient idea of economic protectionism” and “abandoning NATO,” calling them “anathema” to conservative principles. 

“I get asked a lot if I believe Trump is a threat to our democracy,” Hutchinson wrote. “I am not good at predicting the future, but we can learn from history and we should take heed when politicians tell us what they are going to do.”

He said that while he voted for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, “Liz Cheney’s book and [the Justice Department’s] Jan. 6 indictment” have made him reconsider ever supporting the 45th president again. 

President Biden won’t be getting Hutchinson support either. 

“Another important point to make is that I also will not vote for President Joe Biden,” Hutchinson wrote. “Biden’s weak border policies, his poor economic record and his slow growth energy policy do not justify reelection.”

Hutchinson’s presidential bid failed to attract any significant support.

He participated in the first GOP primary debate last August, but failed to qualify for any of the other subsequent forums.

Hutchinson exited the race in January after getting just 191 votes in the Iowa Republican caucus. 

Former Vice President Mike Pence similarly announced last week that he won’t endorse Trump in 2024 and won’t vote for Biden.