Donald Trump Doesn't Mention Ron DeSantis During Presidential Announcement, But Others Do
Former President Donald Trump announced his reelection bid a week after midterm elections at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and remained silent on his potential rival and former protege Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
"A bruised Donald Trump announced a new presidential bid on Tuesday night, an invitation to double down on the outrages and failures of the last several years that Republicans should reject without hesitation or doubt," wrote the editors of the conservative National Review after Trump announced his bid.
Trump's speech presented the opposite. He lauded his presidency as a victory and the sole Republican who can lead the country to greatness against targets such as China, the news media, and incumbent President Joe Biden. Notably absent from his speech, though, was any comment on DeSantis.
"In order to make America great and glorious again, I tonight am announcing my candidacy for President of the United States," said Trump during his speech. "America's comeback starts right now."
Only, he doesn't have full support from the Republican Party thanks to, in part, the lawsuits plaguing Trump as well as his endorsed candidates losing their races in the midterm elections and his continued attacks on fellow Republicans. Including his attacks on DeSantis ahead of the midterm elections and after.
Trump attacked DeSantis in private and public, snubbing DeSantis when it came to rallies and fundraisers for the midterm elections.
"The Fake News asks [DeSantis] if he's going to run if President Trump runs, and he says, 'I'm only focused on the governor's race, I'm not looking into the future," said Trump. "Well, in terms of loyalty and class, that's really not the right answer."
A Politico reporter asked Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming if she would support Trump in his campaign for the 2024 presidency.
"I don't think that's the right question," answered Lummis. "I think the question is: who is the current leader of the Republican Party? Oh, I know who it is: Ron DeSantis."
Her declaration signals the continual shift of the Republican Party from the former president and toward the Florida governor "whether [DeSantis] wants to be or not."
Another high-profile Republican echoed her words in a Twitter post.
The former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote that the Republican Party doesn't need a leader who calls himself a "victim," as Trump repeatedly referred to himself during his Tuesday night speech where he announced his bid for the 2024 presidency.
"We need more seriousness, less noise, and leaders who are looking forward, not staring in the rearview mirror claiming victimhood," claimed Pompeo on Twitter hours after Trump spoke at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
Pompeo is one of many prominent Republicans, including those who were once firmly in Trump's camp, who is surrounded by rumors of their own 2024 presidential ambitions. The former Secretary of State isn't the only former Trump ally to have walked away. Trump's former Vice President Mike Pence, is another potential rival, as well as former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Recent polling has also suggested that Trump holds a weakening grip over the Republican Party, with most choosing to support the party over the former president.
Various polls show DeSantis leading from 7 to 15 points in various states, including nationwide, against Trump. Although Trump has spent years working to solidify his position and build himself back up again with the use of his once-many allies, things have changed in the Republican Party.
During a press conference on Tuesday, DeSantis was asked about Trump's criticism of him. He indirectly addressed this by saying that "all that's just noise" and compared it to his attacks by "corporate media."
"One of the things I've learned in this job is when you're leading, when you're getting things done, you take incoming fire," explained DeSantis as he avoided mentioning Trump or any of his critics by name. "That's just the nature of it."
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