Florida Governor Ron DeSantis punched back at former President Donald Trump after enduring months of attacks from the man he appears increasingly likely to challenge for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
DeSantis made the remarks in an interview with Piers Morgan on Fox Nation’s “Piers Morgan Uncensored” that is set to air later this week.
The remarks from DeSantis come after the former president has launched multiple attacks on the governor since the midterm elections ended, including trying to brand the governor with derogatory names, promoting baseless claims that DeSantis is a groomer, and claiming that Democrat billionaire George Soros endorsed DeSantis.
DeSantis was slammed by the former president on Monday after he spoke out against the prosecution of Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office investigation, calling it “an example of pursuing a political agenda and weaponizing the office.” DeSantis took a swipe at Trump while making the remarks, saying, “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair. I just I can’t speak to that.”
Trump responded on social media by writing: “Ron DeSanctimonious will probably find out about FALSE ACCUSATIONS & FAKE STORIES sometime in the future, as he gets older, wiser, and better known, when he’s unfairly and illegally attacked by a woman, even classmates that are ‘underage’ (or possibly a man!).”
While talking to Morgan at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, DeSantis gave his strongest indication yet that he intends to enter the race for president.
“I have what it takes to be president, and I can beat Biden,” he said. “If I were to run, I’m running against Biden, Like we [he and Trump] are competing for the Republican [nomination], potentially, I get that, but ultimately, you know, the guy I’m gonna focus on is Biden because I think he’s failed the country.”
“I think the country wants a change,” he added. “I think they want a fresh start and a new direction and so we’ll be very vocal about that.”
Morgan wrote in an op-ed describing the upcoming interview that it was “clear that the governor has had enough of Trump’s constant baiting and felt ready to take him on.”
When asked about differences between himself and Trump, DeSantis said that there were several.
“The approach to COVID was different. I would have fired somebody like Fauci,” DeSantis said. “I think he got way too big for his britches, and I think he did a lot of damage.”
“I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership, I get personnel in the government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda,” he continued. “You bring your own agenda in you’re gone. We’re just not gonna have that. So, the way we run the government, I think, is no daily drama, focus on the big picture, and put points on the board, and I think that’s something that’s very important.”
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