Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida appears to be gearing up for a potential 2024 run against former President Donald Trump, and the governor took the first shots in what could be a bitter battle between them.
In an interview set to air later this week with Fox Nation’s “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” DeSantis responded to months of attacks from Trump. The former president has labeled DeSantis with derogatory names and claimed Democrat billionaire George Soros endorsed him — both baseless claims.
When asked if he thought he could win, DeSantis replied confidently: “I think so.”
Moreover, DeSantis spoke out against prosecution efforts by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office against Trump, calling it “an example of pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.” When asked about possible hush money paid by Trump during his presidency, DeSantis quipped: “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair. I just I can’t speak to that.”
Former President Donald Trump took to social media to criticize Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after the latter expressed his intention to run for president in 2024. In the tweet, Trump accused DeSantis of facing “FALSE ACCUSATIONS & FAKE STORIES.”
DeSantis made clear who his main opposition is: incumbent President Joe Biden. The governor argued that “the country wants a change” and that he has been “very vocal” about it during his time in office in Florida. When asked why he was not focusing on Trump, DeSantis said: “Like we [him and Trump] are competing for the Republican [nomination], potentially, but ultimately, you know, the guy I’m gonna focus on is Biden because I think he’s failed the country.”
DeSantis outlined the differences between himself and former President Donald Trump. On the issue of COVID-19, he said that he would have “fired somebody like Fauci” for getting “way too big for his britches” and causing “a lot of damage.”
DeSantis also spoke on his approach to leadership during his administration in Florida, stating that those who do not share his agenda are not welcome in government under him. He went on to say: “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…”
When asked about Trump’s derogatory nicknames for him, including “Ron DeSanctimonious,” DeSantis laughed it off and responded: “I don’t really know what it means but I kinda like it.” He added: “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.”
Lastly, DeSantis joked about how engaging in arguments with people online does nothing for those he represents: “It’s not important for me to be fighting with people on social media… so I don’t think it’s something that makes sense for me.”