Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis were once allies in the Republican Party. The duo is now expected to face off in a highly contentious battle for the GOP nomination in the 2024 election.
Even though DeSantis has yet to confirm that he is running for president, Trump continues to remark about DeSantis' poll numbers and breaking loyalty.
What Happened: “They’re fading really fast,” Trump recently said on the Full Send Podcast, referring to the other Republican candidates for the 2024 election.
The former president also had some choice words to say about DeSantis, calling him “a guy from Florida, who I endorsed.”
“He was dead politically,” Trump added, claiming the Florida governor was losing by 25 to 30 points prior to the endorsement. After that, DeSantis gained “like a rocket ship, like rocket man.”
When asked about the job that DeSantis has done in Florida, Trump cited Florida's "very high crime rates."
But according to 2021 data, the most recent available, Florida's crime rate is the lowest recorded since 1971.
Trump also claimed Florida had more deaths than lots of countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. As of March 2023, there were more than 86,000 deaths from Covid-19 in Florida — the third-highest state in the U.S.
“I think [DeSantis] gets good publicity,” Trump said. “The thing he did well was on public relations.”
Related Link: Joe Biden Tops 2024 Election Betting Odds, How Do Trump And DeSantis Rank?
What’s Next: Trump assumes that DeSantis — who is currently abroad in Japan and is expected to visit South Korea and Israel — is vying for the GOP nomination, but questioned if campaigning is a smart decision.
"Now he’s a rocket man that’s crashing," Trump says. “I’m leading him in every state. I’m leading him everywhere.”
Trump also seems to be offended by DeSantis' running against him on the heels of an endorsement: “When you help someone, I believe in loyalty.”
Trump, who announced his presidential bid in November, has yet to announce a vice presidential candidate. Could it be DeSantis? “I don’t see it,” Trump says, adding that there are many good Republican candidates to choose from.
Next: Trump Warns DeSantis Running For President Means Losing Cherished And Massive MAGA Vote Base
Photo: Shutterstock and Gage Skidmore on Flickr
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