The war of words between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis continues, as some of the GOP’s biggest names all gear up for next year ahead of an anticipated intraparty slugfest that could usher in a new MAGA era.
DeSantis, 44, “broke” the Twitter space on Wednesday when he made his official entrance into the 2024 presidential race in front of a large online audience, ending months of speculation about whether he would launch a campaign and former President Will challenge He shared an optimistic forward-looking outlook, saying that the candidates must “end the culture of defeatism that has infected the Republican Party in recent years.”
Trump, the 76-year-old GOP front-runner according to nearly every poll conducted before DeSantis’ official entry, has attacked the Florida governor for weeks and kept up the attacks, claiming his foe’s campaign launch was “disastrous.” while adding that his state’s COVID-era policies paled in comparison to those implemented by New York and former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo.
DeSantis, who has been encouraged by some Republican strategists to take off the proverbial glove and counter some of Trump’s rhetoric, responded Thursday by saying that the Trump camp is fixated on his candidacy because it positions him as the biggest political threat. sees
“Who will be the leader to be able to win an election, like we did in Florida, and to implement the kinds of policies that are going to get the country back on track?” DeSantis told good morning nh on Thursday. “I think what he’s doing is showing everybody he understands I’ve got a good chance to beat him.
“Because he doesn’t criticize anyone else anymore, it’s only me. They wouldn’t do it if they didn’t think I had a chance, because I think they realize I can present a record of achievement to people. I have been one who is second to none.” They know that my chances of winning the election are high.”
Former President Donald Trump during the Make America Great Again rally on April 27, 2023 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Trump and Ron DeSantis are going after each other in what is expected to be a long campaign season that could ultimately see many choose conservative sides. ,
Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images
Trump continues to use it Satya Social Forum to the campaign, writing Thursday that “Ron DeSanctimonius had zero chance of winning the Republican primary for governor of Florida before a guy named President Donald J. Trump endorsed him!” Trump also posted an Emerson College poll showing him 42 percentage points ahead of DeSantis in the Iowa caucuses.
Steve Bannon, a prominent voice in conservative media and a former White House adviser in the Trump administration, is endorsing his former boss for another presidential term.
Bannon lambasted DeSantis’ Twitter appearance, which was delayed due to technical difficulties, calling it a “clown show”. Bannon also said that DeSantis is “a bit [autism] Spectrum,” a sentiment shared by outspoken far-right activist Laura Loomer and other Trump supporters.
Trump supporters Liz Harrington and DeSantis aide Christina Pushaw have gone back and forth on Twitter, calling out the other’s favorite candidate.
GOP Rep. Thomas Massie called on Trump on Twitter to cooperate with Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was upset over policies implemented at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shift in Economics from the Culture Wars
“There’s no stopping it from here on out because the stakes are so high and time is short, so contrasting each other’s styles will be interesting,” said Susan McManus, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of South Florida. “We know what Trump’s style looks like, but will DeSantis’ go for something more subtle but direct?
“We don’t really have a good idea yet, but it is clearly the case that they are the two leading candidates at this point and that’s what everyone is going to focus on. January is not that far away.”
McManus told newsweek The fight will be a long one that will go beyond the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, with some sort of resolution expected to be reached by next summer.
While some strategists have encouraged DeSantis to lean into culture war issues, such as his fight with Disney or his outing over Florida’s “heartbreaking” six-week abortion law, McManus believes The governor needs to pay more attention to the national economic agenda.
“Right now the country is more interested in it,” she said. “If you look at Biden’s polls, that’s one of his shortcomings—his handling of the economy. And things are still not good with people…. I think DeSantis needs to talk more about the economy.” need, the big tax cut bill that he just got through the legislature – solid evidence of how he’s handled economic issues.”
Tom Zawistosky, president of the Tea Party affiliate We the People Convention (WTPC), believes the first few caucuses and primaries will determine the GOP standard bearer.
Zawistowski, who led the Tea Party in his home state of Ohio, told newsweek His organization is campaigning a “Unity” ticket with Trump as president and DeSantis as his vice president. WTPC also took out a full page advertisement on Monday miami herald Propagation of the idea
“I’m looking at our perspective and our perspective versus the media, and political advisers in the party, and all those kinds of people,” he said. “It amazes me that people say, ‘Oh, DeSantis will never be Trump’s vice president because he’s been so mean to him, said all these nasty things.’ Look at the history. I mean, [Hubert] Humphrey hated LBJ [Lyndon Baines Johnson], [Ronald] Reagan and [George H.W.] The Bushes hated each other. That doesn’t mean you can’t get together.
“And it’s really clear to Donald Trump. It’s a game, it’s not personal. Look what he did to Ted Cruz. Look what he did [Mitt] Romney, then went on to campaign for Romney and helped him win the Senate seat. Therefore, it is astonishing to me that anyone would think that Trump actually believes this. It’s a show. That’s how he fights.”
He called DeSantis “probably the most qualified person to be president who probably ever lived,” and possibly the only conservative who has done more than Trump.
