In a recent interview with RealClearPolitics, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made a bold statement about former President Donald Trump. According to DeSantis, Trump is “fine with weaponization” of the government if it’s against people he doesn’t like. This comment has sparked a lot of debate and discussion among political commentators and voters alike.
During the interview, DeSantis was asked about his approach towards Trump and why he hasn’t directly criticized him. A voter in Iowa pointed out that DeSantis’s poll numbers were falling while Trump’s were rising.[0] The voter wanted to know why DeSantis hadn’t gone after Trump directly.[1]
DeSantis responded by saying that he has articulated all the differences between himself and Trump on the campaign trail. He also accused the media of wanting Republican candidates to smear Trump personally, which he said is not his style. DeSantis believes that the media is trying to create a narrative that he is soft on Trump, but he insists that he has been clear about his differences with the former president.
The exchange between DeSantis and the voter was captured on video and shared on social media. It has since garnered a lot of attention and sparked a discussion about the relationship between DeSantis and Trump. Some people believe that DeSantis should be more critical of Trump in order to differentiate himself and appeal to a broader range of voters. Others argue that DeSantis is smart to avoid personal attacks and focus on policy differences instead.
DeSantis also brought up an incident involving a Trump-affiliated political action committee (PAC) that filed an ethics complaint against him. The complaint alleged that DeSantis violated state law by launching a presidential campaign early, but it was later dismissed by the Florida ethics board. DeSantis described the complaint as “bogus” and expressed concern over Trump’s rhetoric of prosecuting political adversaries and his self-comparison to a dictator.[2]
Despite his concerns, DeSantis is currently trailing significantly behind Trump in the national primary polls, especially in Iowa, a state that holds crucial importance in the presidential race.[2] According to the latest poll data, Trump has a commanding lead with 52% support, while DeSantis only has 18% support.[2]
DeSantis acknowledged that Trump has been his own worst enemy in many ways, but he believes that there is still a path for him to gain support and overcome the gap in the polls.[3] However, some critics argue that DeSantis needs to do more to differentiate himself from Trump and offer a clear alternative to voters.
Overall, the comments made by DeSantis about Trump being “fine with weaponization” of the government against his political opponents have sparked a heated debate. It remains to be seen how this will impact DeSantis’s campaign and his relationship with Trump moving forward. As the 2024 presidential race heats up, it’s clear that the dynamics between DeSantis and Trump will continue to be closely watched by political observers and voters alike.
0. “Voter confronts DeSantis on Trump approach: ‘Why haven’t you gone directly after him?’” The Hill, 4 Jan. 2024, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4388218-voter-confronts-desantis-trump-approach/
1. “DeSantis mocks Colorado boycott: Trump ‘would spike the football’ if anybody else banned” Raw Story, 27 Dec. 2023, https://www.rawstory.com/desantis-mocks-colorado-boycott-says-if-it-wasnt-him-banned-trump-would-spike-the-foot
2. “Florida Governor DeSantis Expresses Concern Over Trump’s Potential Misuse of Power” BNN Breaking, 27 Dec. 2023, https://bnnbreaking.com/politics/florida-governor-desantis-expresses-concern-over-trumps-potential-misuse-of-power
3. “Voter Confronts DeSantis Over Trump: ‘Why Haven’t You Gone Directly After Him?'” Yahoo News, 4 Jan. 2024, https://news.yahoo.com/voter-confronts-desantis-over-trump-073218130.html
