Former President Trump once again made a jab against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) on Monday. DeSantis is widely speculated to be one of his potential presidential primary opponents. Recently, while traveling to Iowa, Trump invited a group of reporters aboard his personal plane for an interview.
Trump stated during the interview that DeSantis was “dead as a dog; he was a dead politician” and that had it not been for his endorsement, he would most likely have ended up doing something completely different like working in a law firm. During the plane ride, Trump was asked by a reporter whether he had regretted backing DeSantis in the 2018 gubernatorial race against then-Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam.
In response, Trump said, “Uh, yeah, maybe, probably yeah.” He then continued to add that he liked those who are loyal and that DeSantis was “dead. He was dead as a doornail.”
According to a Politico report, Trump had ultimately decided to endorse DeSantis in the race because the then-congressman had defended him during a Democratic-led impeachment effort over Trump’s insistence and push to have Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate the Biden family.
Trump has, over the past few months, made a number of attacks against DeSantis, who is widely considered to be his biggest potential opponent in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Trump launched his presidential campaign in November, while DeSantis has not yet officially announced his intentions for 2024.
