Ben Carson endorses Donald Trump

Ben Carson and Donald Trump share a laugh during a debate in Las Vegas in December. (Photo: John Locher/AP) 

Ben Carson has decided to endorse Republican front-runner Donald Trump and will officially do so on Friday morning in an appearance with Trump in Palm Beach, Fla., Yahoo News has learned.

The endorsement may come as a surprise to many of Carson’s supporters, since the mild-mannered, deeply religious Carson is a vivid contrast to Trump in terms of style and values.

But a Carson adviser said that the retired neurosurgeon — who for a short time last fall led the field of Republican presidential candidates — sees Trump as the only candidate remaining who is not part of what he often called “the political class.”

Carson believes that the political establishment has ruined the country, and is throwing his support to Trump because the businessman and reality TV personality is best able to disrupt the status quo.

Carson was also angered by some of the tactics employed by Sen. Ted Cruz. For example, a number of Cruz’s supporters tried to undermine Carson on the night of the Iowa caucuses Feb. 1 by telling them that Carson was pulling out of the race.