Despite many challengers in the race for president, the only real Republican contenders are Trump and DeSantis. Things are starting to heat up.
And Ron DeSantis sparked a media firestorm over this statement about Donald Trump.
There are over a dozen declared candidates for the Republican primary so far.
Who knows how many others will throw their hats into the ring.
But it looks like the Republican field is going to be more crowded than ever before.
In reality, it looks like it will come down to Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis – that is, if the polls are to be believed.
And Ron DeSantis had some strong words for Donald Trump.
When asked if he would personally support former President Donald Trump if he emerged as the Republican nominee in 2024, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said on Thursday that he does not believe it will “ultimately matter,” seizing the opportunity to bash the GOP frontrunner.
A reporter asked DeSantis about Trump’s attacks against him, inquiring, “Regardless of his attacks, will you 100 percent pledge to support Trump as a GOP nominee?”
DeSantis, on the other hand, originally refused to say if he would personally back Trump.
Rather, he first criticized Trump’s line of attack, particularly on DeSantis’s handling of the coronavirus, only later adding that the process — people’s final decision — should be respected.
“So what I would say is this: When you are saying that Cuomo did better on COVID than Florida did, you are revealing yourself to just be full of it. Nobody believes that,” DeSantis said, recalling how Trump praised Florida for being open in 2020 and 2021, as well as his governor’s leadership.
“Now, all of a sudden, his tune is changing. And I would just tell people, do you find it credible? Do you honestly find it credible? Would you have rather been in New York during COVID under [the] Cuomo regime, or would you rather have been in the Free State of Florida?” DeSantis inquired, rejecting Trump’s criticism as “just frivolous criticisms.”
Trump, he continued, is trying to “backtrack” because he “views he needs to do that.”
“And he’s saying things that are false, and so that’s fine if you want to do it. I don’t think people are going to buy it,” he said, still not revealing if he would support Trump. Rather, DeSantis concluded that the criticisms likely will not matter, predicting his own success, emerging as the victor.
“I don’t think it’s going to ultimately matter in the end. I think we’re going to be successful, but at the same time, you know, you gotta get into these processes. It’s like, I want to beat Biden. Ok? I will do that. I will get that done,” DeSantis said, asserting that he will also bring along policies “for a landing.”
“It’s one thing to promise things, but when you don’t deliver on it…,” he said, asserting that he will do so.
DeSantis went on to say that the primary is “an important process” that should be honored, thereby sidestepping the subject.
“You respect the process, and you respect the people’s decisions, how this goes, but I’m very confident that those decisions are going to be positive for us,” he added.
Notably, the Republican National Committee (RNC) is requiring qualifying candidates who participate in debates to vow to support the party’s nominee in the end.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly slammed DeSantis for being “disloyal,” even before the governor’s official campaign launch.
Regardless of whether you stand with Trump or DeSantis, one thing is certain: this primary is going to be one for the history books.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
