The tension between former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) continues to grow as DeSantis is close to making a decision about whether or not he would be placing a bid on the White House for 2024. DeSantis’s ambitions to win the White House have long caused Trump to resent DeSantis.
Trump widely considers himself to be DeSantis’s benefactor, frequently stating that if it had not been for Trump’s endorsement in 2018, DeSantis would not have won the gubernatorial election. Trump once again called DeSantis out during his first major campaign events this past weekend.
During an interview with the Associated Press, Trump said that DeSantis had to do whatever he wanted to do, but that as of right now it was himself who was leading the polls. He further added that if DeSantis did choose to run it would be a show of “disloyalty” because he only has his current position as governor because of Trump. He added that if he does run then his “political life was over.”
This is not the first time that Trump has attacked DeSantis since speculations about the Florida governor running first appeared.
Still, DeSantis’s team appears to currently be preparing as they have reached out to several veteran Republican staffers and operatives who could join his campaign. According to a recent The Washington Post report, two top DeSantis campaign veterans, Phil Cox and Generra Peck were a part of discussions relating to a 2024 campaign.
DeSantis himself has not yet made any announcement regarding potentially running for the GOP in 2024. He has also not yet launched an official presidential campaign.
