Sen. Tim Scott launches 2024 presidential exploratory committee, accuses Dems of weaponizing race

Republican South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott threw his hat Wednesday into the 2024 presidential ring, formally launching an exploratory committee with a video message staged at the site of the first civil war battle.

A rising GOP star and his party’s lone black senator, Scott accused Democrats of weaponizing race to divide the country.

"Joe Biden and the radical left have chosen a culture of grievance over greatness,” he said in a video shot at the Fort Sumter National Monument. “They’re promoting victimhood instead of personal responsibility and they’re indoctrinating our children to believe we live in an evil country."

Scott said that Democrats "weaponize race to divide us to hold onto their power," as he highlighted his own rise from humble means to one if the highest offices in the land as evidence that undercuts their narrative.

“When I fought back against their liberal agenda they called me a prop, a token,” he said. “Because I disrupt their narrative. I threaten their control. They know the truth of my life disproves their lies."

He joins an increasingly crowded field that includes former President Donald Trump, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and tech mogul Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to mount a presidential bid, has not yet formally declared his campaign.

Hours before the video release, Scott teased his campaign in an email update predicting a "major announcement" on Wednesday.

"I’ve been doing a lot of thinking the past few months. I’ve been thinking about my faith. I’ve been thinking about the future of our country. And I’ve been thinking about the Left’s plan to ruin America," he said.

"From all this and through self reflection and prayer, I’ve decided to make a major announcement tomorrow and I want to make sure you hear it first," he wrote to supporters.

The Post and Courier first reported on the committee plans.

Scott has recently made steps toward preparing a campaign, appearing in key primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire, The Hill reported. He has further rallied support among his Senate colleagues, with Sens. John Thune, S.D.; Mike Rounds, S.D.; and John Cornyn, Texas; reportedly encouraging such a move.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.