A new report released on Sunday revealed that Donald Trump is now using new insults for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) while tensions continue between the two potential 2024 rivals.
The former president has reportedly taken to calling the conservative voice “Meatball Ron” in reference to his appearance, during private conversations, and has also now called him “Shutdown Ron” over the state’s brief economic and social lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report from the New York Times.
In fact, the report suggests that Trump and his campaign intend to make the pandemic a central issue in their attacks against DeSantis in spite of the fact that Florida was among the best-rated in their response to the pandemic.
The Times reported that Trump’s allies and staff are attempting to find any details that would depict the governor as a “phony” over his COVID-19 response.
DeSantis has become a popular voice in the GOP, serving as a vocal opponent to the Biden administration’s public health policies from vaccinations to remote learning.
DeSantis is quickly becoming a prominent alternative for Republican voters who agreed with Trump’s policies but viewed the man himself as too divisive or aggressive.
DeSantis oversaw early pandemic restrictions when COVID-19 was first detected in the U.S. and when it became a significant issue in March 2020, making stiff restrictions in Broward and Palm Beach counties, shutting down their beaches — which Trump has been quick to bring up in recent weeks.
Trump told CNN last month that the Florida governor was trying to “rewrite history” on his governing during the pandemic.
DeSantis, meanwhile, has not officially declared an intention to run for president, but his refusal to rule out a potential primary challenge to the former president has caused significant strife between the two.
In addition to the nicknames being reportedly thrown out behind closed doors, Trump has increased his attacks against the governor in public.
Trump has repeatedly referred to the governor as “Ron DeSanctimonious,” a nickname Trump debuted just before the midterm election races, which earned him criticism from fellow Republicans for hitting out at a member of his own party.
Just last week, Trump used his Truth Social platform to promote unconfirmed rumors that DeSantis partied with underaged girls while working as a teacher at a Georgia high school, resharing a follower’s post of an image that reportedly depicted a young DeSantis with three girls around him whose faces are blurred out.
“Ron DeSantis was having a “drink” party with his students when he was a high school teacher. Having drinks with underage girls and cuddling with them certainly look pretty gross and ephebophiliaesque,” the post said.
Trump commented: “No way?” following up with a separate post that read, “That’s not Ron, is it? He would never do such a thing!”
However, Trump’s concern of a possible rival may be warranted after a Monmouth University poll released on Thursday revealed that if the 2024 election were held today, DeSantis would come out on top.
DeSantis captured 53% of the vote from Republican respondents in a hypothetical head-to-head primary race, while Trump netted just 40%. The poll was taken January 26 through February 2.
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