Posted on 11/10/2022 9:15:55 PM PST by SeekAndFind
On Thursday night, with midterm races still yet to be called in key states that will determine the balance of power in Congress, former President Donald Trump issued a statement targeting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who walloped Democrat Charlie Crist in one of the few clear GOP victories of what was supposed to be a national "red wave" night in repudiation of President Biden's agenda.
Trump's lengthy statement began by using his new nickname for DeSantis — for whom he voted in Florida this week — "DeSanctimonious," and called him "an average REPUBLICAN Governor with great Public Relations" who "has the advantage of SUNSHINE." Trump also claimed "people from badly run States up North would go [to Florida] no matter who the Governor was, just like I did."
The 45th president continued his attack on DeSantis by claiming the popular governor's first campaign had "completely fallen apart" before Trump stepped in to endorse him, hold rallies on his behalf, and "fixed" his campaign while stopping the "election from being stolen." Trump's accusatory statement continued, saying "Ron DeSanctimonious is playing games!" by answering questions about a Trump 2024 run by saying he was focused on his now-wildly successful gubernatorial race and leading Florida. According to Trump, "in terms of loyalty and class, that's really not the right answer."
Trump's statement, while on par with his usual rhetoric that's normally used against centrist, squishy Republicans and not red state conservatives, drew an outsized amount of criticism from Republicans and conservatives for attacking DeSantis, let alone while the governor is responding to Hurricane Nicole's landfall across the Sunshine State.
Like many conservatives, Jesse Kelly was looking forward to a primary fight sharpening the eventual GOP nominee to take on Biden — or whoever Democrats run — in 2024. But now, he's calling Trump out, saying he's "going to just embarrass himself and go down in flames" which, as Kelly points out, is a sad development.
I was genuinely excited to see a primary fight between these two. I think that’s what would be best for the country.
But apparently Trump is going to just embarrass himself and go down in flames and I’ll be honest, it saddens me a little. Not how the Trump era should end.
https://t.co/CYVIcIsW4i— Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) November 10, 2022
Others who supported Trump in 2016 and 2020 shared similar disappointment in his decision to start and now escalate a fight with one of Republicans' brightest examples of what limited conservative government can achieve:
I supported the man twice after never wanting him to get the nomination. He sat in $100 million this cycle to keep for himself. What he is doing now is childish and damaging nobody but him. I am done with Trump after this. Good riddance.
https://t.co/NLNdXlg9jS— Johnny Conch (@JCinKeyWest) November 10, 2022
Our friend Kurt Schlichter didn't hold back either, pointing out that his recent statements and reaction to the midterms could be seen as "an all out war against his electability."
Some might argue that Trump is in an all out war against his electability. I mean what the hell was that today? https://t.co/UmaLQlirn7— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) November 10, 2022
In the same vein, Byron York noted that Trump's statements in the last 72 hours seem to be an attempt to inflame most Republicans against him:
'Ron DeSanctimonious' is back. Former President Trump, perhaps worried there are some Republicans he has not yet irritated, attacks Gov. DeSantis again. pic.twitter.com/M4BlyUKlhe— Byron York (@ByronYork) November 10, 2022
Others, including Allie Stuckey, pointed to the fact that this might not entirely be about Trump's feelings about DeSantis — again, who Trump voted for on Tuesday — but about the fact that DeSantis is taking attention away from Trump's big announcement slated for next Tuesday night:
Trump’s statement reads like DeSantis slighted him in some way, but really he’s just upset that *other* people are talking about DeSantis’s presidential potential. https://t.co/BjV3IsOPjJ— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) November 10, 2022
As The Hill's Joe Concha, a Fox News regular, pointed out, Trump's feud with DeSantis is entirely one-sided and not a great strategy for Trump in the long-term:
And for those who argue that Trump is just fighting back against DeSantis, point to any public statement of DeSantis saying anything negative about Trump. This is a one-way street on that front and the former president looks small in doing so.— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) November 11, 2022
Another friend of Townhall's, Jim Hanson, noted that Trump and all who care about the future of America should be celebrating what DeSantis and his campaign accomplished in Florida on the gubernatorial, senatorial, and congressional level.
Big Trump weakness
Attacking our team@RonDeSantisFL was the big winner yesterday
All of the Fighting Right should celebrate thathttps://t.co/yTdGU8mmoY— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) November 10, 2022
Even Townhall's own Matt Vespa and Storm Paglia — who've been endless defenders of Trump through it all — are fed up with Trump's midterm response:
Trump is just self-destructing...i hate to use the phrase "move on," but it's a debate we need to have before we're in the thick of 2024 stuff.— Matt Vespa (@mVespa1) November 10, 2022
This is exactly why you’re bleeding extremely staunch supporters like me Trump. The great Governor has done nothing “sanctimonious” to deserve that super lame nickname, or these lies about his (much better than yours) Covid policies. DeSantis 2024.
pic.twitter.com/DzuudYs62Z— Storm Paglia 🇺🇸 (@storm_paglia) November 10, 2022
With reactions like these, Trump needs to read the room and realize firing inside the tent — especially against the man known in many GOP circles as "America's Governor" — is not the move in the wake of a midterm cycle in which DeSantis' victory was one of only a few bright spots.
But, if his escalating statements and posts on Truth Social are any indication, this seems to be the warpath Trump's now on — and it doesn't look like those who previously backed him want to be along for the ride.
Oh he’s not done with politics. But politics is done with him.
I mean he does this to everyone, from “Pocahantas” to Jeb Bush, called Ted Cruz’s wife ugly. I guess he finally crossed the line with a lot of people
What always got me was when he would rant about an otherwise unknown person he had a problem with, like a specific FBI agent or news reporter that “wronged” him. The audience would have no idea who he was talking about. The disabled NYT writer etc
If Oz would have won, he’d have been another Romney.
Who knows if he would have supported MAGA.
Amen daddy!
Some people here have lost the plot and think the goal of conservatism is to promote Donald Trump not conservatism. I now understand why cults form so easily.
Donald and Ron need a face to face to end this once and for all
Trump is the most persecuted political figure in American history...and after everything he’s done to protect our Free Republic and our free enterprise system.
He took it in butt from corrupt, evil A holes for years and never bowed to them. I like to think he did it for me.
He’s entitled to blow off a little steam.
LMAO. Old man trump simply made a dig at a perceived rival and rather than accept what it obviously is you guys cook up some insane NSA ancient aliens 5D chess theory. Lol you guys are too much. if he was that galaxy brained where are our 90% majorities in both houses right now? Might as well go through the same mental gymnastics for Biden.
Hey everybody Biden is actually on our side and a secret diehard MAGA! all those mean digs toward the GOP are actually just to draw out our enemies!
RE: I mean he does this to everyone, from “Pocahantas” to Jeb Bush, called Ted Cruz’s wife ugly.
You forgot insinuating publicly that Cruz’s father was involved in the assasination of JFK.
boohoo a guy with a less than wholesome history and a penchant for diving into any drama and pursuing any petty feud he can find combined with the media’s natural hatred of Republicans generates a lot of negative headlines. Maybe he should just take a well deserved rest.
Dark Donald trying to prove Dark Brandon correct.
I think it is the TrumpSwampVax talking.
Why can’t Trump rip McCarthy like this?
Right, Trump does generate negative headlines, but what’s the source of those headlines?
Answer: The liberal media who all hate his guts and who don’t want him in the Oval Office.
I feel like I’m on DU tonight.
DJT said a while ago:
“Let’s see who gets in the quicksand”.
and remember as a younger man he also said:
“I’d almost like to lose all my money just to see who would stand by me”.
” 4D Chess”
First, there is not such thing as 4D Chess, and this is from a bunch of us die hard Trump supporters who worked for him: President Trump, please SHUT UP. Not a good look and it will ensure he loses with women and independent voters
Brilliant.
Scared people don't think straight.
We are told Donald Trump demands loyalty from the people around him, someone needs to remind Trump loyalty is a two-way street, it’s hard to demand loyalty when you don’t give it in return
What’s wrong with Trump is he’s a) exhausted from campaigning for Republicans and b) is being labeled a loser by mainstream media and RINOs. And they’re all saying Trump is over and DeSantis is the new leader of GOP.
I don’t know anyone who could hold up under these constant attacks from friends and enemies.
Also, DeSantis had secret meetings with McCarthy and Paul Ryan. Trump’s right, DeSantis forgets Trump effectively putting him in office.
DeSantis ad https://youtu.be/o8jz7Cwjo3c
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