Ron DeSantis Takes Issue With Trump's Past-Centric Approach: 'You'd Be A Lame Duck If You Could Even Get Elected'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly criticized former President Donald Trump for his excessive focus on the past and not presenting a forward-looking vision, as per a forum at Winthrop University on Thursday.

What Happened: DeSantis positioned himself as the only GOP presidential candidate capable of running a positive campaign that could triumph over President Joe Biden in a general election, reported The Hill.

"You also need a nominee who can win. And I think the way you win is to focus the election on Biden's failures. And our positive vision for the future," he said.

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DeSantis also expressed doubts about Trump’s capabilities, stating that even if he were to be re-elected, he would struggle to accomplish much during his term.

“You didn't do it the first time, you'd be a lame duck if you could even get elected and all that,” he added.

He emphasized the risk of allowing the election to become about extraneous issues, warning it would provide an advantage to Democrats and the media.

The Florida governor also questioned Trump’s ability to build a strong bureaucracy, accusing him of throwing people under the bus during his tenure. He suggested voters should consider someone who would be “energetic, forceful, disciplined, focused and deliver for you.”

Despite DeSantis’s critical stance, he currently trails Trump in the GOP primary polls, securing an average of 13 percent support compared to Trump’s 57 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight.

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