Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has yet to even announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination, yet his popularity is already proving to be an immense source of irritation to Donald Trump.
Since announcing his candidacy last November, Trump has dubbed DeSantis as “Ron DeSanctimonious,” accused him of disloyalty, and declared his political career was “dead as a dog” before his endorsement ahead of Florida’s 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
Many conservatives have been left disappointed with this rhetoric, particularly about such a popular figure within the Republican base who won re-election in the traditionally purple state of Florida by a whopping 20 points. While some merely prefer DeSantis as an option for 2028, others have aggressively backed Trump’s hostility toward his former ally and are going all out to discredit DeSantis as a viable candidate. RedState looks at who these people are, and what they are saying.
Laura Loomer
The most brazenly anti-DeSantis influencer has been the activist and former congressional candidate Laura Loomer, who nowadays dedicates most of her content to bashing her governor’s conservative credentials.
Among her claims are that DeSantis is a strong supporter of the COVID vaccine and has no interest in fighting Big Tech, despite considerable evidence to the contrary. She is also campaigning to stop the removal of Florida’s ‘Resign to Run’ law, which DeSantis plans to repeal to prevent being forced to resign in order to launch his campaign.
“Ron DeSantis literally stole all of President Trump’s policies and pretended like they were his own,” she recently wrote. “Before Trump, DeSantis was your typical neocon RINO ass kisser voting to militarize Ukraine and give the Dems 2 more Senators by supporting statehood for Puerto Rico.”
Ron DeSantis literally stole all of President Trump’s policies and pretended like they were his own.
And before Trump, DeSantis was your typical neocon RINO ass kisser voting to militarize Ukraine and give the Dems 2 more Senators by supporting statehood for Puerto Rico. https://t.co/JgpgxAd1Bh
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) March 13, 2023
Alex Bruesewitz
The CEO of the digital marketing firm X Strategies, Alex Bruesewitz’s Twitter feed is almost entirely dedicated to attacking DeSantis while pumping up Trump’s candidacy. In a post on Tuesday evening, he wrote: “DeSantis isn’t Trump 2.0. He’s Bush 3.0. He’s funded and backed by the same America last globalists who gave us Bush.”
It is unclear whether X Strategies, which is understood to work with many high-level Republican candidates and media figures, receives money from the Trump campaign.
DeSantis isn’t Trump 2.0
He’s Bush 3.0
He’s funded and backed by the same America last globalists who gave us Bush.
Not interested in him AT ALL! #Trump2024
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) March 15, 2023
Mike Lindell
The election integrity crusader and CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell has similarly taken an anti-DeSantis position in favor of Donald Trump. Speaking to reporters at CPAC earlier this month, Lindell described DeSantis as a “Trojan Horse” and accused the media of “covering up” his supposed failings in sanctioning Disney for opposing his so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation.
BREAKING 🚨
American Patriot and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell CALLS OUT Governor Ron DeSantis at CPAC, calling him a “Trojan Horse” for the left who did nothing to fight Disney, and alleging that the media is running cover for him.
Do you agree with Mike?
pic.twitter.com/0CRhTxJ5PY— Alex Sheppard 🇺🇸 (@NotAlexSheppard) March 3, 2023
The Last Refuge
A popular Twitter account that describes itself as a “ragtag bunch of misfits that do not align with political specificity,” The Last Refuge is among those aggressively attacking DeSantis, with a particular focus on his economic record and his alleged support for American military support for Ukraine.
“The powers that decide elections don’t care if Biden or DeSantis win 2024,” he wrote recently. “They only care that the system permitting their elite status is maintained. DeSantis donors will flock to Gavin Newsom or Susan Rice just as easily. The UniParty priority is to block Trump.”
PRO TIP. The powers that decide elections don't care if Biden or DeSantis win 2024. They only care that the system permitting their elite status is maintained.
DeSantis donors will flock to Gavin Newsom or Susan Rice just as easily.
The UniParty priority is to block Trump. https://t.co/iX7I8Fkfus
— TheLastRefuge (@TheLastRefuge2) March 12, 2023
Nicholas Fuentes
Despite Trump’s positions on Israel and vaccines seemingly running contrary to many of his extreme views, the far-right activist and commentator Nick Fuentes has also staked out a strong anti-DeSantis position. Among his criticisms include claims that DeSantis is beholden to the “Jewish media” and pro-Israel interests. “The Ron DeSantis challenge is already helping Trump get his edge back,” Fuentes wrote on Telegram last year. “I love to see it. Fuck DeSantis. TRUMP 2024.”
Fuentes has also aligned himself with Kanye West’s presidential ambitions, although it is unclear whether he sees the tainted rap superstar as a serious candidate.
Nick Fuentes claims that DeSantis is "mobbed up" with Israel and Mossad.
Ye asks Fuentes if he says something against the Mossad is it "Mossadginistic?"
Then he pulls out the Netanyahu props: "I'm the head of the Mossad, I'm going to kill you and take your children away…" pic.twitter.com/IRFJGchgYD
— Kassy Dillon (@KassyDillon) December 2, 2022
The wider Trump base
Arguably the most potent critics of DeSantis are Trump’s wider base, many of whom claim to feel betrayed by reports that the Florida governor plans to take on the former president. They are responsible for amplifying attacks on DeSantis and pushing the narrative that Trump will run away with the nomination. Although views vary, many are motivated by a belief that DeSantis is the candidate of choice for the media and Republican establishment and consequently cannot be trusted.
DeSantis served in the military and almost 3 terms in congress. During that time he was a neocon warmonger.
That didn't change because he served a term as gov. of Florida.
DeSantis is a waffling career politician who's only real ideology is to copy Donald Trump.
— Pro Swing Trading 📈😎🇺🇸 (@Pro__Trading) March 15, 2023
FOX PUSHING DESANTIS! LISTEN DESANTIS WOULD NOT HAVE WON IN FLA. IF NOT FOR TRUMP! TRUMPS BASE WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR THIS TRAITOR. TRUMP WON 2020 AND HE NEEDS TO FINISH WHAT HE STARTED. MAGA! DESANTIS SHOULD BACK TRUMP NOT RUN AGAINST HIM!
— susan farrell (@sueq313) March 12, 2023
Why won't TRUMP TRAITORS just go ahead and put DESANTIS 2024 in their Bios?
They know he's trying to change the law in Florida so he can remain Governor when he loses
COWARDS,ALL OF THEM!!
Don't try to hijack MAGA and don't try to come back after selling Trump out. Shameful pic.twitter.com/LZU5wJyKUi
— LisaB❤🇺🇸GodAlreadyWon!🚫NWO HoldTheLinePatriots! (@GodGetslastWord) March 12, 2023
While polling data at this stage remains largely unreliable, it is unclear what impact this strategy will have on the race. However, some analysts believe it will do little to hamper DeSantis’s chances as reports circulate that he will soon officially throw his hat into the ring.
“In the 2024 race, DeSantis represents everything we want to become as a party. So when Trump’s acolytes attack Governor DeSantis with lies and petty insults, it isn’t funny or charming because it isn’t true,” Bill Mitchell, a popular conservative talk show host who supports DeSantis, told RedState. “It contradicts our own perceptions and so rather than reject DeSantis, we reject Trump for violating our belief system. As the song says, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape.”
I just have to laugh at those calling me a traitor for flipping from Trump to DeSantis. I had a better choice, I took it.
Do people honestly expect me to intentionally stay with the lesser option out of loyalty?
I owe it to my country to pick the BEST candidate and that is… https://t.co/da76BunARf
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) March 14, 2023
Dennis Lennox, a Republican strategist with experience on several presidential campaigns who recently engineered a letter from Michigan GOP lawmakers drafting DeSantis into the 2024 race, told RedState:
“To see Trumpist grifters — let alone the forty-fifth president in his bizarre video — vociferously attack R.D.S. is just absurd. It shows how desperate Trumpworld has become as without Trump these grifters have nothing and are relative nobodies outside their circle of Kool-Aid drinkers on Twitter.”
DeSantis, meanwhile, has refused to respond personally to Trump’s attacks and instead sought to emphasize his record in office. “When you have a record of achievement, people can call you a name, but that’s not gonna trump the achievement,” DeSantis said at a recent event. “And so we’ve built an astounding record of achievement, the best is yet to come, we’re gonna do a lot more over the next few months, and that’s what people look to.”
While Trump remains the frontrunner, DeSantis undoubtedly poses his most significant threat. With less than a year to go until the primaries, the only thing we can be sure of is that this Republican civil war is only just beginning.
