Former President Donald Trump’s campaign claims that Florida is now “among the worst” states to work, retire, or raise a family. This is a blistering rebuttal to the story Governor Ron DeSantis tells about the state thriving under his leadership.[0] Trump recently bashed Florida, claiming that DeSantis’ mismanagement has made it “among the worst states” to live, find economic opportunity, raise a family, or retire. This statement cites a string of talking points lifted from left-wing sources. A spokesperson for DeSantis’ campaign did not respond to the claims made by the Trump campaign.[1]
Trump and his campaign have been critical of Florida lawmakers, who they say are not doing enough to support the former president. For example, Texas Rep. Lance Gooden, who shares a pro-Trump adviser with some Florida lawmakers, announced his support for Trump immediately after leaving an event with DeSantis.[2] Gooden noted, “there is no doubt in my mind that … Trump is the only leader who can save America from the leftist onslaught.”
The rebuff from Florida lawmakers has been particularly striking.[3] According to Politico, Rep. Greg Steube, a Florida Republican, stated that he decided to endorse Trump due to DeSantis’ habit of excluding him from local events and failing to reach out to him when he was injured earlier this year. In contrast, Trump promptly called to inquire about his well-being.[4] Politico’s Playbook reported that DeSantis never returned Steube’s repeated attempts to contact him, and when he was initially invited to stand beside the governor after Hurricane Ian, he was told he would not be part of the event.[5]
Despite DeSantis’ well-documented aloofness, he remains a formidable political force.[6] He has galvanized the state’s shift to the right and won reelection by 19 percentage points, a victory that expanded the ranks of his allies in the legislature, allowing him to pass bills with little to no meaningful opposition.[7] However, as he steps out onto the national stage, DeSantis has hit a rough stretch, facing questions about his political strategy, policy stances, and personal touch.[6] Some allies have privately expressed concern about his contentious agenda, waffling on Ukraine, and reserved response to Trump’s relentless assaults on his record.[6]
Despite these concerns, DeSantis remains in a clear second place to Trump, with a cluster of other current and prospective candidates mired in single digits and showing no signs of gaining traction.[4] He has continued to draw enthusiastic crowds in early state visits, rounding out a weeks-long circuit through the first four states in the GOP nomination fight. DeSantis has racked up some significant wins this session, passing multiple bills that he backed, including a ban on abortions after six weeks and a measure letting people carry concealed weapons without a permit.
In conclusion, the battle between DeSantis and Trump for the Republican nomination in 2024 is heating up. Trump’s campaign claims that Florida is now “among the worst” states to work, retire, or raise a family, while DeSantis is facing questions about his political strategy, policy stances, and personal touch. Despite this, DeSantis remains a formidable political force and has continued to draw enthusiastic crowds in early state visits. It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the Republican nomination fight in 2024.
0. “Donald Trump says Ron DeSantis created ‘misery and despair’ in Florida” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2023, https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/21/donald-trump-says-ron-desantis-created-misery-and-despair-in-florida/70139811007/
1. “How Trump turned the tables on DeSantis” The Hill, 22 Apr. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3963150-trump-desantis-2024-endorsements
2. “DeSantis’ D.C. charm offensive was a massive failure” MSNBC, 19 Apr. 2023, https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/desantis-washington-dc-trump-endorsements-rcna80468
3. “Why Ron DeSantis keeps losing Florida endorsements to Trump” Vox.com, 19 Apr. 2023, https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/4/19/23689747/trump-desantis-florida-endorsement
4. “DeSantis 2024 presidential momentum cools with Trump dominating polls” The Washington Post, 20 Apr. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/04/19/ron-desantis-trump-2024-election-polls/
5. “Exclusive: 2 More Florida Congressmen Plan to Endorse Trump” TIME, 19 Apr. 2023, https://time.com/6273050/donald-trump-endorsement-florida-congressmen-exclusive/
6. “DeSantis allies prepare for financial show of force as Florida governor seeks to overcome early stumbles” CNN, 20 Apr. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/politics/ron-desantis-allies-financial-show-of-force/index.html
7. “How DeSantis became Florida’s most powerful governor in a generation” The Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/04/16/florida-ron-desantis-governor-legislature-power
