Former President Donald Trump has called on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to drop out of the upcoming election in order to unify the Republican Party. In a recent interview, Trump expressed his disappointment with DeSantis’ campaign and suggested that he should have waited for a more opportune time to run.
“I think he has to get out for the good of the party,” Trump stated bluntly during an appearance on Real America’s Voice. “He could have waited, and he would have been odds on favorite for ’28, but he didn’t do that.”
Trump also took credit for DeSantis’ rise to power, claiming that without his endorsement, the Florida politician would have lost his first gubernatorial election.
“I got him elected,” Trump asserted. “If it weren’t for me, he wouldn’t be governor right now, he’d be working in a law office doing whatever he was going to do.”
Recalling DeSantis’ initial struggles in the gubernatorial race, Trump described how the governor’s prospects were grim until his endorsement turned the tables. “He was losing at a level you would never even believe possible,” Trump emphasized. “I don’t think even George Washington or Abraham Lincoln could have helped him. But then I endorsed him, and he ended up winning easily.”
However, Trump criticized DeSantis’ recent comments regarding a potential presidential run, interpreting his response as a confirmation of his intentions. “They ask him a question, ‘Are you going to run against the president?’ And he said ‘I have no comment.’ I said, ‘Wait a minute, did he say no comment? That means he’s running,'” Trump explained.
Furthermore, Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with DeSantis’ campaign strategy, labeling it as lackluster. “We hit him hard, but the fact is he’s a lousy campaigner,” Trump declared.
DeSantis recently announced another major reboot to his campaign that saw him fire about half of his staffers. According to recent reports, the reboot is effort to overcome challenges and regain momentum. The campaign has faced criticism for missteps and escalating costs, leading to concerns among donors and allies.
While details of the reboot are yet to be fully disclosed, some sources suggest that the governor will be sticking to familiar themes and messages while breaking from his typical focus on conservative news outlets to expand his appearances to mainstream news outlets like CNN.
However, skepticism remains among donors, with divisions within the campaign becoming more pronounced. As the campaign seeks to address these issues, it remains to be seen how successful this reboot will be in navigating the political landscape.
