Gordon Sondland, the former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union and a key witness in the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump, has unexpectedly expressed renewed support for the ex-president. Sondland’s announcement, made on MSNBC on October 2, 2024, caught the host, Ari Melber, off guard.
Sondland’s testimony in 2019 was crucial for the House Democrats during the impeachment investigation. They accused Trump of abusing U.S. military aid to Ukraine as leverage to get an investigation launched into Joe Biden and his son, Hunter. Sondland had previously reported a clear “quid pro quo” deal between Trump and the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, making his recent change in stance quite surprising.
The former ambassador appeared on MSNBC with ex-Trump administration officials Peter Navarro and Sarah Matthews. Melber presented Sondland with a video clip from January 2021, where Sondland expressed his disapproval of Trump following the Capitol riot, stating he could no longer support Trump. When asked if he still held this view, Sondland rebutted, “No, I don’t stand by it and I’ll tell you why,” and went on to explain that his disappointment with the Biden administration’s policies had led him to reevaluate his previous stance.
Sondland, a prominent Republican donor and hotel magnate, pointed to his dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration as the primary reason for his shift in perspective. He expressed concerns over the administration’s handling of the economy, foreign policy, and domestic issues, suggesting that the country has been poorly managed.
This declaration presents a significant departure from Sondland’s previous statements during the impeachment proceedings, where he played a key role in providing testimony that connected Trump to the controversial Ukraine matter. The impeachment inquiry, which started in late 2019, put Sondland in the limelight due to his firsthand account of dealings with Trump and high-ranking Ukrainian officials. His detailed account of Trump’s involvement in the Ukraine controversy was crucial to the impeachment process.
Throughout the live broadcast, Melber pressed Sondland to elaborate on his revised position and questioned him about his earlier remarks criticizing Trump. However, Sondland stood firm, mentioning his experiences under the current administration as the primary factor influencing his decision to back Trump again.
Sondland’s unexpected endorsement has sparked renewed discussions about Trump’s political clout and the return of former detractors within his party to his support base. As a significant player in Trump’s impeachment trial, Sondland’s backing mirrors a growing trend among former Trump officials who, despite their previous critiques, now consider Trump to be a better leader than the current administration.
With this move, Sondland joins a list of former Trump officials who have once again rallied behind the ex-president, suggesting a consolidation of support within the Republican Party. Political analysts are now considering how these endorsements might influence Trump’s 2024 campaign, particularly among voters who remain split over his presidency.