On Saturday (July 8), former President Donald Trump continued his criticism of his closest-Polling primary opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R), suggesting the Governor was “desperately” wanting to get out of the 2024 race.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump asserted that. “Ron DeSanctimonious is desperately trying to get out of the Presidential race,” adding the Florida Governor wanted to accomplish that “while… saving face for 2028.”
In recent Polling, Trump’s lead over DeSantis has grown substantially, fueling concern among some Republicans that the Florida Governor has failed to deliver on recent campaign polling as some Republicans have shared concerns that DeSantis is failing to deliver on the initial hype around his challenge to Trump.
In response, DeSantis claims those concerns and his much-to-be-desired polling figures are a product of media — and some influential figures — targeting him.
Trump has taken aim at DeSantis preceding the Florida Governor’s official entrance into the primary race in May.
The former President also has taken aim at DeSantis’s capacity to win over the electorate, suggesting that DeSantis was a “lousy candidate” in the 2018 Gubernatorial race prior to Trump’s endorsement.
DeSantis went on to narrowly win that election.
In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump also teased attending GOP primary debates, something he initially suggested he would not do.
However, he claimed that the Florida Governor’s campaign strategist Steve Cortes had praised Trump’s debate skills and encouraged DeSantis to exit the primary field.
In a Twitter Space discussion, Cortes suggested that DeSantis’s team faced an “uphill battle” in the upcoming GOP primary, acknowledging that given Trump’s two tries at the Oval Office, he had more experience of the two. However, Cortes, once a Trump strategist, said he believes DeSantis could win.
