What’s Happening:
Donald Trump launched his 2024 campaign back in November. But it’s far from heated up yet. Trump has hosted a few events and has posted numerous campaign videos online. Only now, though, is he being tested as several Republicans move toward launching campaigns of their own.
What is Trump’s strategy against these accomplished and formidable rivals? It seems like the same old, tired insults. Trump is trying to tear down well-known Republican figures, but it seems like this tactic is falling flat. And now, his latest moves against this one man could blow up in his face.
From Fox News:
While former President Trump continues to work out nicknames for his potential 2024 presidential rival, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is still managing to stay out of the fray while building his resume…
“Ron DeSanctimonious wants to cut your Social Security and Medicare,” Trump wrote Sunday night, “closed up Florida & its beaches, loves RINOS Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush, and Karl Rove (disasters ALL!), is backed by Globalist’s Club for NO Growth, Lincoln Pervert Project, & ‘Uninspired’ Koch — And it only gets worse from there. He is a RINO in disguise!, whose Poll numbers are dropping like a rock. Good luck Ron!”
It seems Trump is failing to find a good tactic against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. While the governor has yet to announce a 2024 bid, he is building a national profile. He is releasing a book about his victories in Florida. And he has been traveling across the country, building support for critical issues like education and law enforcement.
Trump recently claimed he isn’t worried about DeSantis and is not even “thinking about” a possible DeSantis 2024 campaign. Yet days later, he took to this social network to spew attacks against the man.
In usual bombastic fashion, Trump accused DeSantis of being a RINO and being allied to the likes of Paul Ryan and Jeb Bush. But, despite all the bluster, Trump could not point to a single piece of evidence to prove his wild claims. He said DeSantis would cut SS and Medicare. That’s just sad.
Biden used the same claims against Republicans–but also failed to prove it. Trump tried to slander DeSantis’s COVID response saying he “closed up Florida.” Yet he failed to mention DeSantis was the first to reopen his state–and saw Florida thrive in the aftermath.
It doesn’t seem that Trump has a strong case against DeSantis. And his angry rants might not work out for him, as they did in 2016. Even Brit Hume, a strong conservative who has formerly said supportive things about Trump, questioned the man’s strategy.
From Breitbart:
“I’m not sure that act will play as well this time as it did back in 2016. I think there’s real reason to doubt that.”
Trump seems more bitter over the fact DeSantis won re-election in 2022, by a large margin… without his help. And, he might win a bigger election in just a few years.
Key Takeaways:
- FL Gov. DeSantis continues to build his national profile, going on a pro-police tour.
- Trump continues to attack DeSantis, but his slander is unprovable and empty.
- Critics are suggesting Trump’s “act” won’t work for him as it did in 2016.
