In an interview on the “Full Send” podcast that aired on YouTube on Thursday (April 20), former President Trump criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R).
DeSantis, who polls show is trailing Trump in the GOP presidential primary, has not yet announced his 2024 Presidential bid.
The Florida Governor is expected to join the race in May, with this speculation amplified by his travels to battleground states since he won his reelection in Florida’s gubernatorial race to pitch his model of governance in the state to national voters.
Aaron Steinberg, one of the popular podcast’s hosts, queried whether Trump’s “biggest competition” came from within Trump’s party.
Trump clarified that Steinberg meant those running in the GOP, promoting the host to reply, “Yeah.”
Trump noted that, in some instances, that was the case but added, “they’re really fading fast.”
However, Trump homed in on DeSantis, saying,
“You have a guy from Florida, Ron DeSantis,” reiterating his claim that he got DeSantis the Governor’s house because of his endorsement.
Trump claimed DeSantis was “dead politically” until his endorsement revived the Florida Republican, asserting that before the 2018 elections, DeSantis was trailing in polls by 30 points.
The former President insisted that with his endorsements, DeSantis was like a “rocket ship,” explaining he should call DeSantis “rocket man,” adding, “but now his rocket man that’s crashing.”
Trump also highlighted that he believed that helping someone should result in loyalty, showing his disapproval of DeSantis’ actions.
When queried whether he’d consider DeSantis as a running mate, Trump declined, saying, “We have a lot of great people in the Republican Party.”
