Trump's welcome of Scott into 2024 race shows his calculus: The more GOP rivals, the better for him

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks in front of President Donald Trump and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., during a campaign rally, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, in North Charleston, S.C. When Scott launched his campaign for the White House last week, the notoriously prickly former President Donald Trump welcomed his new competitor with open arms. “Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” Trump said. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

When Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina launched his campaign for the White House last week, the notoriously prickly former President Donald Trump welcomed his new competitor with open arms.

There were no accusations of disloyalty or nasty nicknames from the GOP front-runner like the barrage he unleashed when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, considered his leading rival, joined the race two days later with a bungled Twitter announcement.

“Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” Trump said. “It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable.”