Former President Donald Trump reunited with Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R-AR), his former White House press secretary, for a high-profile endorsement rally to compete with the third GOP primary debate in Miami.

"We've got out-of-control inflation, violent crime, an open border, a rising China. Biden and the Left have failed over and over again, and they know it and you know it, and it is time for a change," said Sanders as she introduced Trump in Hialeah. "That is why tonight, I am so proud to endorse my former boss, my friend, and everybody's favorite president, Donald J. Trump."

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The Arkansas governor championed Trump's record, including cutting taxes, appointing three conservative justices to the Supreme Court, and his hard-line stance against China.

"That's because he's not afraid to be an outsider, a change agent, a disruptor," Sanders continued. "He put America first, the first president in a long time to do exactly what he said he was going to do. He's the complete and total opposite of Joe Biden, the corrupt Washington insider."

The crowd jubilantly chanted "We want Trump!" in response. Trump thanked Sanders for "the wonderful endorsement" and claimed Arkansas was in "very good hands."

This is the third straight debate Trump has skipped, citing his high polling numbers and fundraising prowess as reasons not to face his 2024 rivals onstage. Five of his rivals, however, qualified for Wednesday's debate, including fellow Floridian Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). The rally in Hialeah was supposed to start at 7 p.m., but Trump did not speak until after 8 p.m., after the debate had started.

Sanders's endorsement was not originally meant to counter this week's highly coveted Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA) endorsement of DeSantis in Iowa, the crucial early nominating state, but instead counter the third debate. Trump and Sanders began discussing her endorsement a month ago after she wrapped up Arkansas's regular and special session, according to a source familiar with the conversations.

The endorsement is also seen as a snub of long-shot presidential candidate former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who failed to qualify for the last two primary debates.

Trump's rally in Hialeah, Florida, roughly half an hour from Miami, is an attempt to connect with Cuban American voters who will be crucial in helping the former president win Florida's primary next year.

The former president sought to link Biden and Democrats to communist Cuba, a foe to many Cuban Americans who fled the island for America. "Nobody ever did more for Americans who love Cuba than a gentleman named Donald J. Trump when he was president," he said.

"Just like the Cuban regime, the Biden regime is trying to put their political opponents in jail, shutting down free speech, taking bribes and kickbacks to enrich themselves, and they're very spoiled children," he continued.

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Trump took to the witness stand on Monday to testify in a civil fraud case brought against him by New York Attorney General Letitia James over allegations he exaggerated his wealth.

Nevertheless, Trump is the front-runner in the GOP primary race, and as his rivals faced off on the debate stage, he was a major topic.