Trump Slams DeSantis for Hedging on Presidential Run: ‘Ron DeSanctimonious’

Former President Donald Trump’s assaults on Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have escalated, with Trump accusing his potential 2024 presidential rival of missing “loyalty and sophistication.”

Trump, who’s dealing with GOP backlash within the aftermath of the occasion’s largely underwhelming efficiency within the midterm elections, is anticipated to announce a 3rd run for the presidency in a “very huge announcement” at Mar-a-Lago subsequent week. In a prolonged Fact Social put up that insisted the midterms had been a “success” on Thursday, the previous president referred to DeSantis as “Ron DeSanctimonious” and denounced him for “enjoying video games” by hedging on asserting his personal intentions for 2024.

Trump accused the media of being “all in for Governor Ron DeSanctimonious,” saying DeSantis had “total numbers” which might be “simply common.” He blasted the Florida governor for enacting COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 earlier than saying that his endorsement was the important thing consider DeSantis being initially elected in 2018.

“Ron got here to me in determined form in 2017—he was politically lifeless, dropping in a landslide to an excellent Agriculture Commissioner, Adam Putnam, who was loaded up with money and nice ballot numbers,” Trump wrote. “Ron had low approval, unhealthy polls, and no cash, however he mentioned that if I might Endorse him, he may win. I did not know Adam so I mentioned, ‘Let’s give it a shot, Ron.'”

“After I Endorsed him, it was as if, to make use of a nasty time period, a nuclear weapon went off,” he continued. “I then obtained Ron by the ‘Star’ of the Democrat Social gathering, Andrew Gillum (who was later revealed to be a ‘Crack Head’), by having two huge Rallies with tens of 1000’s of individuals at each… I additionally mounted his marketing campaign, which had utterly fallen aside.”

Trump went on to say that he saved DeSantis after the 2018 election by stopping the election from being “stolen” attributable to a “corrupt” voting course of in Florida’s Broward County.

Regardless of having been “all in for Ron” previously, Trump denounced the governor for refusing to say whether or not he’ll run for president in 2024. He additionally accused the media of getting an anti-“MAGA” agenda and taking part in “collusion” with DeSantis, evaluating the state of affairs to his victory over early 2016 GOP favourite “Low Power Jeb Bush.”

“Ron DeSanctimonious is enjoying video games!” Trump wrote. “The Pretend Information asks him if he’ll run if President Trump runs, and he says, “I am solely targeted on the Governor’s race, I am not wanting into the long run.” Nicely, by way of loyalty and sophistication, that is actually not the precise reply… This is rather like 2015 and 2016… They are going to preserve coming after us, MAGA, however in the end, we are going to win.”

Following a rally in Ohio on Monday, Trump reportedly threatened to launch details about DeSantis “that will not be very flattering” if he challenges him in 2024. He first referred to the governor as “Ron DeSanctimonious” at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Regardless of the clear tensions, Trump, a Florida resident, advised reporters that he voted for DeSantis in Tuesday’s election and urged Republicans to comply with swimsuit throughout his ultimate rallies earlier than the midterms.

Newsweek has reached out to the workplace of DeSantis for remark.