In recent days, there has been a flurry of political rumors surrounding Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his potential plans for the 2024 presidential race. Former President Donald Trump has been at the center of these rumors, suggesting that DeSantis may drop out of the race and instead run for the U.S. Senate against Rick Scott.[0] Trump made these claims on his social media platform, Truth Social, and in subsequent interviews.[1]
The rumors began on August 28, when Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Rumors are strong in political circles that Ron DeSanctimonious, whose Presidential run is a shambles, and whose poll numbers have absolutely crashed, putting him 3rd and 4th in some states, will be dropping out of the Presidential race in order to run, in Florida, against Rick Scott for Senate.”[1] Trump continued to repeat these claims in subsequent posts, emphasizing the alleged decline in DeSantis’ campaign and poll numbers.
However, DeSantis’ camp quickly refuted these rumors. Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ press secretary, dismissed Trump’s claims as “fake news” and accused Trump of being “panicked” about DeSantis’ successful debate performance and growing momentum.[2] Griffin asserted that DeSantis is fully committed to the presidential race and will continue to compete with Trump for the nomination.
To support his claims about DeSantis’ supposed campaign troubles, Trump referenced a new poll from Emerson College that showed a slight decrease in Trump’s support among Republican primary voters following the first GOP debate, which Trump chose not to attend.[3] However, DeSantis saw a small increase in his share of likely Republican voters after his debate appearance.[4] These numbers indicate that DeSantis is still trailing behind Trump but may be gaining some support among Republican voters.[5]
In addition to the rumors about DeSantis’ potential Senate run, Trump also criticized the governor’s approval of a 20% hike in Florida electricity rates. Trump accused DeSantis of accepting a significant campaign contribution from Florida Power and Light, suggesting a potential conflict of interest. However, these claims were promptly debunked by DeSantis’ camp, who defended the governor’s actions and accused Trump of spreading false information.
The timing of these rumors is notable, as Trump recently learned that his trial in Washington, D.C., is set to start on March 4, 2024, just one day before Super Tuesday primary voting.[5] This trial could potentially impact Trump’s ability to campaign and participate in the primary race. It is unclear whether Trump’s rumors about DeSantis are an attempt to divert attention from his own legal challenges or to undermine a potential rival.[6]
As the rumors continue to swirl, it is important to scrutinize the sources and motivations behind these claims. While Trump has a history of using social media to make controversial statements, it is crucial to rely on factual information and verified sources when evaluating political news. In the case of DeSantis’ presidential campaign, it appears that the rumors are unfounded, and the governor remains committed to competing with Trump for the Republican nomination.
Overall, the political landscape is ever-changing and filled with speculation and rumors. It is essential for voters and observers to critically analyze the information presented and separate fact from fiction. As the 2024 presidential race unfolds, it will be interesting to see how these rumors and allegations impact the campaigns of both DeSantis and Trump.
0. “DeSantis Team Denies Trump’s Rumor He’ll Drop Out Of Presidential Race To Run For Senate” Forbes, 28 Aug. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/08/28/desantis-team-denies-trumps-rumor-hell-drop-out-of-presidential-race-to-run-for-senate/
1. “Trump floats a ‘roomer’ that DeSantis will run for Senate” The Daily Dot, 28 Aug. 2023, https://www.dailydot.com/debug/trump-rumor-desantis-senate-run/
2. “Donald Trump Starts Rumor That Ron DeSantis Is Dropping Out” New York Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/08/donald-trump-starts-rumor-that-ron-desantis-is-dropping-out.html
3. “Donald Trump Speculates Ron DeSantis Will Bow Out Of Presidential Race: ‘We Will Carry This On To A Win,'” Benzinga, 29 Aug. 2023, https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/08/34086141/donald-trump-speculates-ron-desantis-will-bow-out-of-presidential-race-we-will-carry-this-on-to-a-wi
4. “Trump claims there is a ‘roomer’ Ron DeSantis will drop out of the 2024 race and run for the Senate in typo-ri” Daily Mail, 28 Aug. 2023, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12453941/Trump-claims-roomer-Ron-DeSantis-drop-2024-race-run-Senate-typo-ridden-social-media-rant.html
5. “Trump Floats ‘Rumour’ DeSantis Is Dropping Out Of The Republican Presidential Primary Race” HuffPost UK, 29 Aug. 2023, https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/trump-floats-rumour-desantis-is-dropping-out-of-the-republican-presidential-primary-race_uk_64ed8e14e4b0fcbba8996170
6. “DeSantis voted against Sandy aid a decade ago. Now his state needs the help.” POLITICO, 31 Aug. 2023, https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/31/desantis-florida-gop-sandy-disaster-aid-00113627
