Former President Donald Trump is already taking his stand against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. They are likely to go head to head in a Republican primary in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump revealed that the governor “begged” him for an endorsement in the state’s gubernatorial primary election in 2018. The former president even said that DeStantis was crying when he asked.
Trump was interviewing with radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday while revealing the information about DeSantis. He also had some words for other potential opponents like former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA).
“Ron DeSantis got elected because of me. You remember he had nothing. He was dead. He was leaving the race,” Trump claimed. “He came over and he begged me, begged me for an endorsement. He was getting ready to drop out. I gave him an endorsement, and as soon as I gave that endorsement, in fact, I said you’re going to have a hard time.”
“He said if you endorse me, I’ll win. And there were tears coming down from his eyes,” Trump claimed. “He said if you endorse me, I’ll win. I said you know what, Ron, Ron was one of 150 people that was on television. I mean, Jim Jordan was the best, and others were great. But he was one of 150, Hugh, that was on television, and he was supporting me on the impeachment hoax number one, and a little bit on the impeachment hoax number two. And I said I don’t know Adam Putnam, so we’ll do it.”
Trump continues to label DeSantis as one who has been disloyal to him for even thinking about running in 2024.
A recent poll conducted by the University of New Hampshire has DeSantis leading Trump 42% to 30% among likely Republican voters.
DeSantis responded to the attacks by indicating that he was unfazed by the remarks of critics as his primary focus remains serving the people of Florida.
