Arkansas' Gov. Sanders will endorse Trump, after all

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed late Monday she's endorsing Donald Trump as the GOP candidate for president.

• NBC first reported the news earlier in the day.

Why it matters: It's a decisive move for Sanders to align with MAGA Republicans and distance herself from former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who's also seeking the nomination.

• Hutchinson is vocal about his opposition to Trump, saying "he's dangerous for our country."

Flashback: Sanders served as Trump's White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019.

• Earlier this year, Trump was reportedly frustrated with Sanders for her neutrality in the race.
• One Trump ally described the feeling to Axios' Alex Thompson as: "You should always dance with the person who brought you."

What they're saying: "The time has come to return to the normal policies of the Trump era — which created a safer, stronger and more prosperous America — and that's why I am proud to endorse Donald Trump for president," Sanders said in a statement texted to Axios.

• "We had great success in the White House and it's an honor to have Sarah's endorsement," Trump said in a statement.

What's next: Sanders is expected to officially make the endorsement Wednesday at a Trump rally in Hialeah, Florida.

Go deeper:

• Poll: Sarah Huckabee Sanders' approval rating the lowest for an Arkansas governor in 20 years
• Arkansas Gov. Sanders bans gender-neutral terms from state documents
• Sarah Huckabee Sanders dismisses allegations of altered documents in Podiumgate

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to say Sanders served as Trump's White House press secretary from 2017 to 2019; she was not his first press secretary.