Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to a question about whether he would be former President Donald Trump’s vice president in 2024, indicating that he would not.
When asked by Newsmax during an interview aired Thursday night about whether he’d join Trump’s ticket, the Republican governor demurred.
“I think I am probably more of an executive guy. I think that you want to be able to do things,” DeSantis said. “That’s part of the reason I got into this job, is because we have action. We’re able to make things happen, and I think that’s probably what I’m best suited for.”
While DeSantis has not officially entered the 2024 race, both he and Trump have emerged as Republican favorites. Hostile rhetoric between the two has escalated in recent days after Trump announced on social media that he would be indicted by Manhattan District Attorney General Alvin Bragg this week.
DeSantis offered this week what appeared to be the first critical comment targeting Trump after he was asked by a reporter about the possible indictment. The Republican governor made reference to allegations that Trump provided money to adult performer Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign.
“I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair,” DeSantis told reporters. “I just, I can’t speak to that.” And when asked about blocking extradition, he said, “I have no interest in getting involved in some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA,” making a reference to billionaire donor George Soros’s having given campaign cash to Bragg.
“He’s trying to do a political spectacle … I’ve got real issues I’ve got to deal with here in the state of Florida,” he added.
There has been widespread speculation that DeSantis, who rose to prominence after ending COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates in his state, would enter the presidential race. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy are the only two other prominent Republicans to have declared their candidacies so far.
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