GOP’s path to socialism goes through a divided party, says Sen. Scott to presidential rivals.

Republican Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina has cautioned that Democrats could use everything that Republican presidential candidates say about each other against them all. He believes that the road to socialism runs right through a divided Republican Party. Scott told Fox News that “Everything we say about each other, the Democrats will weaponize against all of us, no matter who the nominee is.”

Scott’s Optimistic Campaign

Scott, who filed paperwork to run for president in 2024 last Friday, has largely refrained from targeting his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination. Instead, he often takes aim at Democrats, namely President Joe Biden. During the first campaign speech in his home state of North Charleston on May 22, Scott didn’t mention former President Donald Trump or any other GOP presidential hopefuls. He attempted to cast himself as an optimist who could take on “the radical left.”

Scott’s Criticism of Democrats

The Senate’s sole black Republican, Scott criticized the Democrats for trying to weaponize race by portraying nonwhite citizens as politically oppressed. “They are using the issue of race to control the outcome of elections to protect themselves,” Scott told voters in Sioux City, Iowa, on May 24. “I oftentimes hear the left weaponizing race whenever they are in the midst of a losing streak. Something becomes racist. I think it cheapens the entire conversation.”

Scott’s Support

The 57-year-old senator appeared to have the support of several top donors, according to a number of reports, as well as members of the Republican Senate leadership, including Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 Republican in the upper chamber. “I want all of America to know what South Carolina knows. And that is that Tim Scott is the real deal. And he will make a great president of the United States,” Thune said at Scott’s announcement event on Monday.

Trump’s Reaction

Trump also welcomed Scott’s entry into the primary field, noting that the pair worked together on his administration’s signature tax cuts. “Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. “It is rapidly loading up with lots of people.”

Republican Presidential Contenders

Since Trump announced his re-election bid last November, the GOP primary field has grown bigger. The declared Republican presidential contenders include South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, radio host Larry Elder, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. On May 24, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially jumped into the White House race.

Trump’s Criticism of DeSantis

But in the same Truth Social post on Monday, Trump took a swipe at DeSantis. “Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable,” Trump wrote. The former president has been vocal in criticizing his one-time ally on social media, focusing on topics from DeSantis’ electability to his personality and character. DeSantis responded to Trump’s criticism on Thursday.