House Republican: Many lawmakers supporting Trump ‘quietly’

by Rebecca Savransky - 03/24/16 2:17 PM ET

A House Republican who has endorsed Donald Trump for president says other lawmakers are backing the businessman behind the scenes.

“Many members are supporting Trump quietly,” Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) told New York radio host Bob Lonsberry on Wednesday in an interview, according to a report by BuzzFeed News.

{mosads}“They don’t like Ted Cruz at all, and for various reasons unique to their particular congressional districts they’re not formally endorsing Mr. Trump.”

Collins endorsed Trump in February, becoming one of the first lawmakers to do so.

He said Wednesday he hasn’t received “negative feedback” from other Republicans for the endorsement, which he made after Trump’s victory in the Nevada caucuses.

“In fact, pretty much on the House floor people know he will be our nominee. With very few exceptions, four or five individuals, everyone’s saying they will support the nominee. [Speaker] Paul Ryan has said that,” he said.

Collins said people will support Trump to beat Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton in a general election.

“And if it’s Donald Trump, they’re gonna support him, as we all need to do to defeat Hillary Clinton and the progressive liberal campaign.”

Tags Donald Trump Hillary Clinton Paul Ryan Ted Cruz