Posted on 12/31/2023 11:15:48 AM PST by Twotone
Former President Donald Trump vowed to build a "new and spectacular building" for the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took one of Trump's most popular MAGA rallying cries and weaponized it against the former president.
On Saturday afternoon, Trump declared that he not only wants to keep the FBI headquartered in Washington, D.C., but also wants to construct a "new and spectacular building" for the government agency.
The FBI Headquarters should not be moved to a far away location, but should stay right where it is, in a new and spectacular building, in the best location in our now crime ridden and filthy dirty, graffiti scarred, Capital. They should be involved in bringing back D.C., not running away from it, especially the violent crime. An important part of my platform for President is to bring back, restore, and rebuild Washington, D.C., into the “crown jewel” of our Nation. We will make it crime free and GREAT AGAIN. The FBI should not be fleeing for safer, yet much less convenient, environs. It should make where they are now the safest place on earth! DON’T MOVE THE FBI!
DeSantis used Trump's own Make America Great slogan against him to turn the tables on his FBI building promise.
"Donald Trump failed to drain the swamp, so perhaps it is not surprising that he is seeking to deepen the swamp by building a massive new FBI building in D.C.," DeSantis responded on the X social media platform. "Actually draining swamp requires taking power out of D.C., not cementing power inside D.C."
DeSantis targeted Trump during a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire.
"NO! That’s part of the problem with the FBI. They’ve become overrun with D.C. politics — you need to take it out of D.C. Take power out of there – that’s how you drain the swamp," DeSantis declared.
"I'm taking power out of D.C., you're going to have a reduction in the size of government, but also in the scope of government," DeSantis stated.
Trump's promise to keep the FBI in the nation's capital is in complete contrast to DeSantis – who wants to relocate government agencies out of Washington, D.C.
In February, DeSantis proposed that federal agencies be relocated outside of D.C. to counter the "accumulation of power" in the nation’s capital.
"Too much power has accumulated in D.C. and the result is a detached administrative state that rules over us and imposes its will on us," DeSantis said in an interview with the New York Post. "While there are a host of things that need to be done to re-constitutionalize government, parceling out federal agencies to other parts of the country could help reduce the negative effects of this accumulation of power."
In August, DeSantis proclaimed that he wanted to slash the size of federal agencies by half, including relocating employees out of Washington, D.C.
"Some of that will be reduction through attrition as people retire, some of that will be transferring to other parts of the country getting them out of D.C.," DeSantis told CNBC host Brian Sullivan on “Last Call." "Some of it will involve layoffs and using Article II power to do it."
“But the agencies in our government have grown 50 percent since 2019,” the Republican governor explained. "If you look at their funding levels, I don’t think there’s any American that thinks they’re 50 percent better off for those agencies having grown by 50 percent.”
Earlier on Saturday, DeSantis took a shot at his primary opponents of Trump and Nikki Haley.
DeSantis said in the video posted on the X social media platform, "Donald Trump's running for his issues. Haley's running for her donors' issues. I'm running to address your issues."
On Friday while campaigning in Iowa, DeSantis reiterated his commitment to pardoning Trump if he were to be convicted on criminal charges.
"I think we got to move on as a country and, you know, like Ford did to Nixon, because the divisions are just not in the country’s interest," DeSantis answered when asked about pardoning Trump.
When asked again by a reporter, DeSantis replied, "Yeah, I said that months ago."
In July, DeSantis hinted that he would pardon Trump.
“Well, what I’ve said is very simple. I’m going to do what’s right for the country," DeSantis said in an interview with Megyn Kelly. "I don’t think it would be good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president go to prison."
When Kelly pressed DeSantis on the pardon, he replied, "It doesn't seem like it would be a good thing. And I look at like, you know, Ford pardoned Nixon, took some heat for it, but at the end of the day, it's like, do we want to move forward as a country? Or do we want to be mired in these past controversies?"
DeSantis is correct.
“Donald Trump failed to drain the swamp…”
Pay attention DeSantis. He’s not done yet. If he were then Jack smith would be off his case
Nope. Anyone who thinks this doesn’t realize what is going on.
When did the Bee buy The Blaze?
I'm a big believer in positive intent in dealing with people. If something appears mistaken, I assume someone had a what they perceived to be a reason for making that choice. It might not be right, it might not be good, but in the moment, to them, it seemed like a good idea. But this one by Trump stumps me. I can't imagine why he would think this was a good idea.
Same for Trump-haters.
If someone says, "Trump spat on the sidewalk," Trump haters would say, "See, Trump's not presidential."
"DeSantis would never do that."
You seriously think it would be populated with the same criminals that are there now?
Did he say where? How about Barrow, Alaska!
but Trump is trolling the fbi...
Think about the statement:
"The FBI Headquarters should not be moved to a far away location, but should stay right where it is, in a new and spectacular building, in the best location in our now crime ridden and filthy dirty, graffiti scarred, Capital. They should be involved in bringing back D.C., not running away from it, especially the violent crime."
The new building would be in the heart of the ghetto'ed violent areas... so the fbi would have to deal with the crime...
Alcatraz would be good.
Don’t let him fool ya. None of these candidates are going to get rid of the FBI. They can change it, reform it, but they won’t be able to shut it down.
Trump sure knows how to get all the monkeys to dance.
And they fall for it every time!
DeSantis talks about draining the swamp. Trump talks about making it bigger.
What would Trump cut to pay for this?
This is why the Swamp has pulled out all the stops to destroy him.
If DeSantis somehow gets the nomination, I will support him in every way possible. To do otherwise is to support our enemy, the Left.
Will you do the same thing if Trump is nominated?
“Trump continues to demonstrate that he has learned nothing.
Same for Trump-haters.
If someone says, “Trump spat on the sidewalk,” Trump haters would say, “See, Trump’s not presidential.”
“DeSantis would never do that.”
Trump is not perfect. He makes mistakes like everyone. Pointing something out is not Trump hating. It is being objective not mired in emotional clap trap.
Built out of glass as a model of total transparency in government.
And as soon as desanctimonious drops out of the race...
many of the desantis supporters will suddenly see the light...
and become haley supporters, becase they gotta support somebody to run against Trump, or they have no purpose as nevertrumpers.
Who cares what Meat Ball says?
Ron, why the heck would I what federal agencies spreading out accross the country? No thanks. That's something the Deep State would want.
Keep them in DC and keep their function limited.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.