Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement on Wednesday saying he would support Donald Trump for president and called for him to unite the Republican Party.
"I have committed to supporting the nominee chosen by Republican voters, and Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee, is now on the verge of clinching that nomination," McConnell said in a 75-word statement.
"Republicans are committed to preventing what would be a third term of Barack Obama and restoring economic and national security after eight years of a Democrat in the White House," McConnell said. "As the presumptive nominee, he now has the opportunity and the obligation to unite our party around our goals."
Trump's candidacy
has caused a rift in the party, with some Republicans declaring they won't support Trump, and others saying they would actually for Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Republican leaders fear such moves could hurt not only the GOP's chance at the White House, but downticket Republicans as well.