Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a freshman member of Congress at the time, once revealed the most “inspirational” person he ever met was former President George H.W. Bush.
The video appears to have been recorded in springtime of 2013, a few months after DeSantis swore in to serve the citizens of Florida’s 6th district as a freshman member of Congress.
In the newly resurfaced video, a reporter asked the then-Congressman DeSantis who the “most inspirational” person he met was, to which the lesser-known GOP politician said the elder former President Bush.
“Who’s like the most inspirational person you met and why?” the reporter asked DeSantis.
JUST IN: Video emerges of Ron DeSantis telling young reporter the most inspirational person he met is Bush 41..
THOUGHTS?
— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) March 26, 2023
“Inspirational person that I’ve met…hmm. I don’t know, that’s a tough one. I’m trying to think who and kinda modern times. I mean, part of the thing when, you know, when you’re grown up and you’re a blue collar kid, I didn’t really get to meet a lot of people,” DeSantis said.
“And then even in Congress now, I’ve only been there for four months. I mean, I guess I would probably say Bush 41,” the then-Congressman clarified.
DeSantis, who is reportedly planning to challenge 45th President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, recently received a full-throated endorsement from failed 2016 GOP presidential contender Jeb Bush, the younger brother of 43rd President George W. Bush, both sons of the 41st President.
Jeb Bush gives his endorsement to Ron DeSantis for President in 2024.#DeSantis2024 pic.twitter.com/D11GemuTFc
— Ole Murica (@OleMurica) March 21, 2023
The Florida Governor now appears to be battling lowering primary poll numbers as he increasingly gets compared to legacy Washington neoconservatives including the Bushes, former GOP presidential candidates Mitt Romney and John McCain, and former House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Last week, President Trump pointed out that DeSantis’ use of the term “gas station” to describe Russia had first been coined by McCain, and most recently echoed by Romney.
MCCAIN. ROMNEY. DESANTIS. pic.twitter.com/muJMu0aZvE
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) March 23, 2023
In turning down any possibility of tapping the Florida Governor to serve as his Vice President in 2024, former President Trump said “If you look at his record, he can’t win” the GOP presidential primary.
“I appointed him. He was failing very badly in the polls, he was going to be out of politics, and I endorsed him,” Trump added.
“Ron was a disciple of Paul Ryan, and Paul Ryan was a loser,” declaring that the former Speaker of the House who is now a Chairman at Fox News “couldn’t get – in Wisconsin – he couldn’t get elected dog catcher right now.” Trump concluded, “That’s a bad person.”
Donald Trump Jr., the son of the 45th President says that DeSantis is controlled by the “worst never-Trump globalist donors” and a “Trojan Horse” for establishment Republicans in washington.
“Who is supporting DeSantis,” Trump Jr. wrote in a tweet on Sunday. “Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, Paul Ryan and all of the worst never-Trump globalist donors.”
Who is supporting DeSantis?
Jeb Bush, Karl Rove, Paul Ryan and all of the worst never-Trump globalist donors. Ron is totally owned and controlled by them because he's a Trojan Horse for the RINO establishment. https://t.co/G5gx4ulD66
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 26, 2023
“Ron is totally owned and controlled by them because he’s a Trojan Horse for the RINO establishment,” he added in response to claims made by radio host Mark Simone that “the Bushes” are running DeSantis’ campaign.
Follow Andrew on Twitter @whiteaf5.
