Former President Donald J. Trump joined Gov. Greg Abbott in Edinburg, near the southern border with Mexico, to serve Thanksgiving dinner to those serving in Operation Lone Star (OLS). Trump and Abbott, both Republicans, fed more than 240 Texas National Guard soldiers, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers, and other service members sent to the border, according to the Office of the Texas Governor. This event took place on Thanksgiving day as a gesture of gratitude towards the servicemen and women.
The event served as an opportunity for Governor Abbott to address the public on a broader level. The governor added that the public should remember the sacrifices made daily by men and women serving in OLS to ensure state and national safety and security, according to the official release.
In addition to this communal gathering, there were significant political declarations from both leaders during their speeches. The Texas Tribune reported that Abbott endorsed Trump—who served as America's 45th commander-in-chief from 2017 to 2021—for Republican nomination for president in 2024. Currently leading a crowded field of aspirants aiming to succeed Biden as the 47th president, Trump responded by saying "Mr. Governor, I am going to make your job much easier," promising focus on other issues within Texas.
This meeting also shed light on Trump’s standing among Republican voters not just in Texas but nationwide. According to the Texas Tribune, Trump continues growing his lead among Republicans in both Texas and across U.S., ahead of figures like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley—the former ambassador to UN and South Carolina's ex-governor.