“Our nation, our values, and our people are strong. But our President is weak,” Scott said during his prepared remarks. “America is not a nation in decline. But under Joe Biden, we have become a nation in retreat. Retreating from our heritage and our history. Retreating from personal responsibility and hard work. Retreating from strength and security. Even retreating from religious liberty and the worship of God himself,” Scott continued.

“This is the freest and fairest land. Where you and I can go as high as our character, our grit, and our talent will take us,” he added. “Our party and our nation are standing at a time for choosing. Victimhood or victory? Grievance or greatness? I choose freedom and hope and opportunity.”

Scott will be vying for the Republican presidential nomination against former President Donald Trump, talk radio host Larry Elder, former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is also expected to announce his presidential bid this week.

According to reports, Scott has about $22 million in cash for his campaign and has already reserved $6 million to run ads in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Scott was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. In 2012, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill in the vacancy left by the retirement of Sen. Jim DeMint.

Scott is the only Black Republican senator in the U.S. Senate.

Scott was raised by a single mother in South Carolina. He attended Charleston Southern University and graduated with a degree in political science. He worked as an insurance agent and financial adviser and later opened his own insurance agency.

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Drew Angerer/Staff

Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.