Donald Trump hits Ron DeSantis over Florida endorsements; rivals say Trump is worried
WASHINGTON – Donald Trump plans to meet Thursday with Florida lawmakers who have endorsed him, part of an ongoing effort to try and intimidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as he prepares to possibly challenge Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
Trump has been promoting his Florida endorsements for days, seeking to counter DeSantis' trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress about the 2024 election. The former president has been attacking DeSantis for months, and even urging him to not run at all – a suggestion DeSantis is likely to ignore.
"A great group of supportive Florida Congressmen and Congresswomen, all who have Endorsed me, will be coming to Mar-a-Lago tonight," Trump said in an ungrammatical post Thursday on the Truth Social website.
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Is Trump worried about DeSantis?
DeSantis allies said Trump is on the attack because he fears DeSantis, who is building a probable presidential campaign built of grassroots support, not political endorsements.
"Donald Trump should be worried about Ron DeSantis," said Erin Perrine, communications director for "Never Back Down," a pro-DeSantis political action committee. "Ron DeSantis isn't even a candidate at this point and Donald Trump is obsessed with him."
Perrine added that when voters compare the two, "DeSantis has a massive record of success versus Trump’s failures."
Who is endorsing Trump?
The Trump campaign did not provide a guest list for the Mar-a-Lago soiree, but it is expected to include the members of Florida's congressional delegation who have endorsed Trump and passed over DeSantis.
The endorsers include Florida Reps. Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Byron Donalds, Brian Mast, Vern Buchanan, Cory Mills, John Rutherford, Greg Steube, and Michael Waltz.
The long-running Trump-DeSantis feud spiked up after Trump's indictment on campaign finance allegations in New York City.
Trump investigations continue
Trump's lead in pre-primary polls has grown among Republicans, many of whom describe the indictment as politically motivated. The president remains under investigation in at least three other cases involving classified documents, his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and the Jan. 6 insurrection.
DeSantis has denounced the indictment of Trump and generally refrained from responding to the former president's attacks. The governor is expected to announce his plans for 2024 after the Florida Legislature adjourns in May.
Does Trump vs. DeSantis divide GOP?
In stepping up his criticism of the governor, Trump used a video this week to again suggest that DeSantis stay out of the 2024 race.
"I believe that if he decides to run for president – which will only hurt and somewhat divide the Republican Party, which we don't need – he will lose the cherished and massive MAGA vote," Trump said, referring to the political movement known as "Make America Great Again."
In recent weeks, DeSantis has come under criticism from other Republicans on a variety of issues, including a renewed fight with Disney, negative news stories, a new abortion bill and saying supporting Ukraine was not a vital national interest, though many of his views are supported by many Republicans.
His performance on the stump has also come in for criticism. A donor memo from the Nikki Haley campaign said DeSantis is "not ready for prime time."
'Palace intrigue'
During a campaign-like appearance Wednesday in South Carolina, DeSantis promoted his record in Florida and took a small jab at Trump by pledging to avoid political drama.
We've got a job that we've got to get done," DeSantis said. "And we've been able to execute day after day, with very little behind-the-scenes fanfare or leaking or palace intrigue because ultimately all that does is distract from your ability."