The strikes by the governor, together with a press convention to trumpet his legislative battles with Disney and a sendoff of Florida Nationwide Guard to the Texas border, has as soon as once more raised questions on his motives, particularly contemplating that he endorsed Trump for president and criticizes Trump’s rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
“I believe he’s simply very annoyed that nobody else is saying these very apparent issues and so feels the necessity to say them himself. Just like the boy in ‘The Emperor’s New Garments,’” mentioned Jason Osborne, the New Hampshire Home majority chief who backed DeSantis’ presidential bid.
That seen was echoed by Rob Stutzman, a Republican adviser for Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential marketing campaign.
“I query how strategic he’s being,” Stutzman mentioned. “I’d lean in the direction of catharsis. Cheaper than remedy.”
It wouldn’t come as a shock if DeSantis mounted one other presidential run in 2028. The governor has hinted that he’s open to a different bid since dropping out and, throughout a press convention in Florida on Friday, instructed an viewers that “after all” he would do it another time.
However his assaults additionally signify a really constant attribute of the governor: Railing towards these he perceives to be towards him. He recurrently bashed political opponents like President Joe Biden and Democrats, punished Disney for publicly opposing laws accused of being anti-LGBTQ+ neighborhood and denounced “liberal” media retailers. The truth that DeSantis is coaching his broadsides towards Trump — and even conservative media retailers — strikes some as DeSantis being DeSantis.
“DeSantis appears to be liberated because the marketing campaign ended,” Stutzman mentioned. “Even towards the top he was a greater candidate than he had been, seemingly unburdened by expectations or contorted methods. I’d suppose his criticisms of Trump and conservative media are honest.”
After DeSantis’ feedback to pledged delegates surfaced, key Trump supporters took direct purpose on the governor. Chris LaCivita, a prime Trump strategist,
known as him a “unhappy little man” on social media. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung
said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “Ron tucked his tail between his legs and he ought to have scurried off into the shadows of obscurity.”
And although Trump floated DeSantis as a
potential working mate on Tuesday, the previous president’s marketing campaign by Thursday — the day after DeSantis name leaked —
closed the door on that possibility.
DeSantis’s marketing campaign and administration declined to remark.
However DeSantis might have his sights on one thing a lot bigger than being Trump’s No. 2. POLITICO beforehand reported that a number of supporters mentioned they anticipate him to run for president once more and predicted he’ll begin elevating cash for state-level political actions later within the 12 months.
And one Republican operative who was on DeSantis’ delegate name, and who was granted anonymity to talk freely, suspected that DeSantis is positioning himself to be a Republican possibility in case Trump can’t proceed working this 12 months resulting from his authorized hassle.
“I imagine every thing you’re seeing is a part of a concerted effort by DeSantis world to maintain the door open within the occasion that one thing within the race adjustments within the coming weeks that takes Trump out — like a legal conviction and jail or jail sentence,” the operative mentioned.
