Some of the Ricketts family in Nebraska spent millions to defeat Donald Trump. Now the most high profile Ricketts is endorsing him.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts on Friday will put his support behind the presumptive Republican presidential nominee while appearing at a rally with him in Omaha, Nebraska.
This endorsement will occur just days after Trump became the last man standing in the Republican field for the nomination, and ahead of the state’s Republican primary next Tuesday.
“The governor has always said he will support the GOP nominee to retake the White House,” Rickett spokesman Taylor Gage said in an email. “The governor is supporting Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee.”
Ricketts’ support comes despite his family’s active participation in an anti-Trump super PAC.
Ricketts’ parents, Joe and Marlene Ricketts, gave at least $5.5 million in combined donations to the anti-Trump super PAC, “Our Principles PAC,” in 2016, according to Federal Election Commission records. Joe Ricketts, aside from being the Nebraska governor’s father, is also a founder of TD Ameritrade, where he also served as CEO. He also owns the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field.
The family’s donations didn’t go unnoticed by Trump — in February, the real estate mogul tweeted about the family.
“I hear the Rickets family, who own the Chicago Cubs, are secretly spending $’s against me. They better be careful, they have a lot to hide!” Trump tweeted on February 22.
The elder Ricketts aren’t the only Nebraskans who have taken issue with Trump. Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sasse has been vocal about his disapproval of the presumed nominee, particularly this week.
Sasse wrote “an open letter to majority America” on Facebook Wednesday evening where he dismissed both Trump and likely Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and called on an additional candidate to run for president.