Posted on 03/22/2023 8:02:46 AM PDT by SoConPubbie
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has finally broken his silence on his much anticipated potential 2024 presidential run, giving an interview from the governor's mansion in which he said that he has what it takes to be president and "I can beat Biden."
DeSantis sat down with Piers Morgan in a wide-ranging interview, saying "stay tuned" when asked about the potential 2024 bid for the GOP nomination. Former President Donald Trump is currently the front-runner for that spot, as he endeavors to earn his second term.
"It was clear that the governor has had enough of Trump’s constant baiting and felt ready to take him on in what could end up being a ferocious battle for the White House," Morgan said, writing about the interview for the New York Post.
"DeSantis slammed Trump over his character failings," Morgan continued, "chaotic leadership style, and for his handling of the COVID pandemic — especially in keeping controversial health chief Dr. Anthony Fauci in his post helping to run the White House Coronavirus Taskforce."
Morgan asked DeSantis how the two most popular Republicans in the country are different, and DeSantis said "Well I think there’s a few things. The approach to COVID was different. I would have fired somebody like Fauci. I think he got way too big for his britches, and I think he did a lot of damage."
DeSantis shut down Florida early on in the pandemic before opening up and giving the state the label "the free state of Florida."
"I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership," DeSantis said, slamming the former president and the man to whom he owes much of his political start, "I get personnel in the Government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda. You bring your own agenda in you’re gone. We’re just not gonna have that. So, the way we run the Government I think is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board and I think that’s something that’s very important."
Morgan asked about the mudslinging that has already started as rumors of a DeSantis run swirl. "I don’t know how to spell the sanctimonious one. I don’t really know what it means, but I kinda like it, it’s long, it's got a lot of vowels. We’ll go with that, that’s fine. I mean you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner because that’s what we’ve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this State to the next level," he said.
Trump endorsed DeSantis when he first ran for governor, helping him beat out Andrew Gillum. "Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader. Yale and then Harvard who would make a great Governor of Florida. He loves our country. He’s a true fighter," Trump had said at the time.
"Things have changed a little bit, I guess. It is what it is," DeSantis said.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
I’ll be honest…
The more I see of this guy, the less I like him…
He is setting off my phony detector….
Not sure what it is, but more I see of him the less authentic my read of him becomes.
Trump can get 100% of the MAGA votes and still won’t win unless the people you are dissing stay home, say hello to the 2nd term of Biden or worse, conversely if DeSantis wants me the nomination he can’t win if the Trump or no one people stay home
Both sides need each other to avoid a 2nd Biden term
If trump gets taken off the ballot maybe Cruz will run…… lol
no we won’t......
When trump called Covid a hoax. What a chump.
That comment was made before he even considered running for President, and the reporting on it was so thoroughly dishonest that even the worst of communist Big Media couldn't keep up the charade.
See 41…
Yeah after months of trump stomping on DeSantis, now the spoiled brat wants pity. Lol. Forget that.
Your less than objective comments are noted.
I saw no comments here on FR about never voting for Trump when he basically said DeSantis was a pedophile which is a really low thing to accuse someone of
I would suggest everyone should read DeSantis' biographical profile and try to imagine that you don't know who it describes.
When Donald Trump ran on a promise to "Drain the Swamp" in 2016, this was exactly the type of political figure he had in mind.
How are they not objective?
“Et tu, Brute.”
The Swamp is at war against real America. DeSantis gave a tepid response to one of the worst attacks and repeated Swamp talking points.
We’ve been betrayed over and over by fake Conservatives, so it should be easy to lose our trust. DeSantis is following a pattern we have seen many times.
He sounds like Sally Field at the Oscars. 😆
I would suggest everyone should read Trump’s biographical profile and try to imagine that you don’t know who it describes.
But the comments came out during the election and Trump did make the comments
Fool took the bait.
DeSantis is definitely more conservative then trump by a mile. I can see what that others you.
See — that’s your problem. Everyone knows exactly who it describes ... because the guy has been the most transparent public figure in my lifetime.
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