Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized 2024 Republican front runner Donald Trump on Thursday, describing Trump’s conduct as petty and juvenile, suggesting that his behavior had alienated voters and ultimately cost him the presidency.
During his tour of early-voting states, DeSantis, 44, expressed his disapproval of Trump’s behavior in an interview with New Hampshire radio host Jack Heath. DeSantis emphasized that he preferred to focus on the issues, and substantive differences between himself and Trump.
DeSantis pointed out Trump’s support for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, even though many people had migrated from New York to Florida to escape Cuomo’s lockdown measures. DeSantis also mentioned his opposition to an immigration amnesty bill, which he believed aligned with his commitment to prioritize American interests.
Trump, 76, responded to DeSantis’s remarks on his social media account by mocking the governor and claiming that he wanted to change the pronunciation of his name. The former president further ridiculed DeSantis by reposting an article that called him a “Trump knockoff” and shared a statement from Representative Mike Kelly criticizing the governor for ingratitude.
In another post, Trump made a joke about former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s weight, echoing a comment from his ally Roger Stone. The post suggested that Christie should “run for office,” accompanied by an image of the governor.
As the 2024 Republican primary field takes shape, candidates such as Trump, Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Tim Scott, radio host Larry Elder, and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson are preparing for the race. Former VP Mike Pence and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum are also expected to launch their campaigns soon. Meanwhile, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has yet to announce his candidacy.
According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Trump leads the GOP primary field with approximately 53% support, and DeSantis with around 22%.
