Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis have now both declared zero interest in working together on a Republican ticket.
By Tom Pappert, ValiantNews
45th President Donald Trump has ruled out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a potential running mate should he secure the Republican Party’s nomination for president in 2024, as current polling suggests.
“My primary opponent is sort of crashing,” Trump said of DeSantis in an interview with Newsmax. After discussing the Ukraine war and the Manhattan District attorney’s pursuit of his arrest, Trump turned back to DeSantis.
Noting that DeSantis already unequivocally ruled out running as Trump’s vice president, Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt asked if Trump would consider DeSantis for the role.
“I’ve never thought of it,” said Trump, declaring that “We have a lot of great people in the Republican Party. I’ve never thought of it; but you know some people every once in awhile mention it, but that’s about it.”
He noted, “That would be a very unlikely alliance,” before launching into his history with DeSantis.
“I appointed him. He was failing very badly in the polls, he was going to be out of politics, and I endorsed him,” said Trump, noting his primary endorsement of DeSantis for Governor of Florida, followed by his campaigning with DeSantis against Andrew Gillum, who Trump described as a “crackhead” who nearly beat DeSantis.
“If you look at his record, he can’t win,” said Trump.
“Ron was a disciple of Paul Ryan, and Paul Ryan was a loser,” declaring that the former Speaker of the House who is now a Chairman at Fox News “couldn’t get – in Wisconsin – he couldn’t get elected dog catcher right now.” Trump concluded, “That’s a bad person.”
For the first time, Trump reflected on the state of Republican Party infighting as voters look toward the first GOP debates later this year.
“I don’t like saying this about another Republican, but you have to,” Trump insisted.
“He’s supposed to have announced. You know, he’s running for president, but he doesn’t want to announce. I just assume he’s running, and so therefore I attack.”
He concluded by reflecting on his record, “I’m not looking to attack Republicans, I had an almost 99%, when I endorsed a candidate, almost 99% of the time they won.”
One of Trump’s endorsements, Rep. Troy Nehls, recently came to Trump’s defense in the brewing feud with DeSantis.
“You are not ready today,” declared Nehls, citing DeSantis’ mixed comments about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s plot to indict and arrest Trump. “You’re not ready yet to be the leader of our party in this country.”
