Posted on 03/21/2023 8:08:31 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
If you were one of those people hoping that the presidential primary season would hold off a few more months, I regret to inform you that the gloves are good and fully off.
Donald Trump has been savaging Ron DeSantis (up to and including suggesting he’s a pedophile) for months, but up to this point, the Florida governor had held his fire. That is no more after DeSantis did an interview with Fox Nation in which he finally responded to some of Trump’s jabs.
It’s only March, so I’m going to do my best to not get in the weeds yet. There will be a time for choosing eventually, but for now, here’s how the interview went down.
When I asked DeSantis to cite specific differences between him and Trump, he said: “Well I think there’s a few things. The approach to COVID was different. I would have fired somebody like Fauci. I think he got way too big for his britches, and I think he did a lot of damage.”
DeSantis also slammed Trump’s chaotic, self-obsessed, and divisive management style, saying:
“I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership, I get personnel in the Government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda. You bring your own agenda in you’re gone. We’re just not gonna have that. So, the way we run the Government I think is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board and I think that’s something that’s very important.”
I will say this before we continue. I think Piers Morgan is being a bit hyperbolic by describing DeSantis’ answers as “slams.” They are as measured as the governor normally is. That’s his thing. He thinks everything through three times before saying it and doesn’t lash out. Some people like that. Others like a more sharp-edged style, though DeSantis does plenty of rhetorical thrashing of the press when necessary.
When pressed on Trump giving him silly nicknames, here’s what the Florida governor had to say.
“I don’t know how to spell the sanctimonious one. I don’t really know what it means, but I kinda like it, it’s long, it’s got a lot of vowels. We’ll go with that, that’s fine. I mean you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner because that’s what we’ve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this State to the next level.”
Until now, DeSantis has never engaged with any of Trump’s regular attempts to provoke him and he doesn’t intend to make a habit of it.
“To me, it’s just background noise,” he said. “It’s not important for me to be fighting with people on social media. It’s not accomplishing anything for the people I represent. So, we really just focus on knocking out victories, day after day, and if I got involved in all the under tow I would not be able to be an effective Governor. So, I don’t think it’s something that makes sense for me.”
DeSantis and Morgan also got into the “break-up” that happened with Trump, with the former putting the blame on his resounding 2022 election victory. In other words, his popularity became a political threat, and the former president didn’t take too kindly to that.
But what I found most interesting about this DeSantis interview wasn’t the interview itself. Rather, it was the absolute meltdown that happened among Trump’s paid influencers.
DeSantis is now fully attacking Donald Trump as he is being politically persecuted by a corrupt DA.
He not only attacked Trump’s ability to lead, but also said he could beat Biden.
DeSantis is done.
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) March 21, 2023
Desantis is now shooting at Donald Trump as he’s being politically persecuted by the Deep State!
DeSantis is a TROJAN HORSE and MAGA will never forget how he turned on Trump during this critical time in our nation’s history!
pic.twitter.com/Q0gXmIPq5K— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) March 21, 2023
Those are the same people who have been spreading lies about DeSantis for months, calling him stupid names and suggesting he’s a globalist RINO cuck who is bought and paid for by George Soros. So forgive me if I don’t think their whining is justified. If you throw punches, expect to get punched back. Crying foul is just weak and pathetic.
Let me make this simple for those losing their minds. This is a presidential primary and one that DeSantis is going to join very soon. The idea that Trump was going to be able to lash out and smear other candidates without any pushback was always farcical. There will be blood. Instead of lamenting that, enjoy the show and know that primary battles are often a good thing for whoever comes out victorious.
There’s no reason to get that upset at this point. Trump is going to keep hitting DeSantis and DeSantis is going to hit him back. Meanwhile, the other has-been candidates will sit in the corner because no one cares what they do.
DeSantis 2024
DeSantis got in HUGE TROUBLE from the Big-Money GOP types when he essentially said that the Ukraine War was NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.
Now he’s trying to get on their good side by kicking Trump while he’s about to get arrested by a Third World judicial system.
If DeSantis does understand MAGA, he best start showing it soon, or else he’ll have to find a way to win against the Democrats after pissing off most of the Republican base.
DeSantis is a very good good governor and monday-morning quarterback. Covid? Give me a break! Second guessing should not be a virtue.
can’t argue with a single thing he said. Go Gov. Ron!
He’s dropped low in my estimation. A-hole move that right now he stared in with his smarmy remarks yesterday, and then this. At a moment when Republicans should stand against the terrorist US government... he piles on and kicks a man when he’s down.
A low life move. And now I find out he is Yale at one of those weirdo naked clubs, a Knight of Malta. Wonder what else we will learn.
I just know Ryan, McConnell, Heritage Foundation, and Fox news really likes him.
How about this: Ronnie would still be grooming young men, if it weren’t for President Trump getting him a job.
Desantis one weakness on the National stage and it is a pretty big one is he like Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan are absolutely terrible retail politicians. Trump is an ace at making the normal person feel special when he shakes their hand or talks to them. Ironically that’s what Biden is good at too. In other words if Ron wants to survive in the Midwest in 2024 he sure as hell better get some people skills in a hurry as he is far to scripted to win in the Midwest.
Trump had his number early on.
Trump should stick to counter attacking. I do not like the preemptive attacks on DeSantis. He hasn’t even announced yet nor has he attacked Trump. Trump 24 DeSantis 28 and 32. I believe they are the only two that can reverse the destruction that has taken place.
Your opinion doesn’t really mean much at this point. DeSantis won his State in a landslide. It seems the people of Florida like him. Trump, on the other hand, won one election, then lost. It seems people got wise to his scheme. What makes you think the people who didn’t vote for Trump are going to go reverse course and vote for him in 2024? And what makes you think what made Floridians vote for DeSantis in droves would make middle America NOT vote for him? Your logic seems backwards. Trump has proven that middle America will not vote for him again.
All I am going to say right now is that every red flag I’ve seen about Ron DeSantis in the past — and which I’ve discussed at length here on FR — is now bigger and redder than ever before.
A more accurate headline would be:
DeSantis Finally Acknowledges What Trump Knew All Along (I.E. DeSantis Plans To Challenge Him For The Nomination)
“ If DeSantis does understand MAGA, he best start showing it soon, or else he’ll have to find a way to win against the Democrats after pissing off most of the Republican base.”
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I like BOTH Trump and DeSantis. My preferred candidate for 2024’s nomination is Trump. But other candidates have a right to pursue running for that nomination. I also believe that Trump has the nomination IN THE BAG unless he himself does something to destroy that current near certainty.
DeSantis has proven that while governing Florida he would VEHEMENTLY defend it against the Globalists seeking to undermine American values. During his tenure he has been the best governor, by far, in America. My recollection is that almost all Trump supporters here HAD felt the same.
But when Trump NEEDLESSLY started ACTING LIKE AN INSECURE, FRIGHTENED HIGH SCHOOL MEAN GIRL trying to bully DeSantis many FReepers who formerly admired DeSantis mindlessly followed Trump’s lead and suddenly considered DeSantis to be Satan incarnate. And he’s not Satan incarnate.
Trump shifting into INSECURE HIGH SCHOOL MEAN GIRL MODE is off putting to Republicans like my wife. I just wish somebody in Trump’s inner circle would help him realize the downsides of those actions.
Agreed
DeSantis:
The approach to COVID was different. I would have fired somebody like Fauci.
No, he wouldn't have.
The Media would have hung EVERY covid death on him - just as they were prepared to do with Trump if he'd made that move.
Heck - they hung every death on Trump anyway. The Media would have gone into epileptic seizures on camera over the firing of Saint Tony.
So, Governor DeSantis is full of cowplop here.
Either he doesn't understand what the Media would have done [shows lack of understanding of political reality], or he's being a politician and lying about it.
A bad look in both cases.
Well I know you’re a Desantis homer so I’ll let your opinion slide. But just remember Trump is the first Republican in 28 years to win the iron triangle and he almost did is it again.
You can state up and down how everybody hates Donald when the simple fact is the GOP underperformed in swing states cause of student loan debt forgiveness and abortion. That’s on the GOP for getting caught flat footed never thinking Roe V Wade would actually be overturned.
Say that with AUTHORITY! because yours does.
“… DeSantis Plans To Challenge Him For The Nomination…”
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I guess you never considered that DeSantis just might be planning on entering the race with a goal of ending up as Trump’s running mate? Which has always been my ideal ticket and would almost guarantee TWELVE YEARS OF MAGA GOVERNANCE.
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