Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) insisted former President Donald Trump is “a friend” of his amid reports that their relationship is strained.
During an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, DeSantis explained, “He is proud when people do well, and it’s not just me, but obviously he’s a Florida resident, and he appreciates the job that we’ve done. He’s told me that many times, not only with helping with the election, but just how we govern the state.”
He continued, “He wants to see Republicans doing well. And I think when media is trying to act like he’s upset at me for doing well, I think that’s total bunk. I think they’re just making it up. And I think he’s somebody that wants to see, you know, not just Republicans do well, but people that are actually going to stand and fight do well across the board.”
Acknowledging Florida is an “important state,” DeSantis continued, “The third-largest state in the country, and really us and Texas are the two biggest states that have sizable Republican footprints, and so we’re proud of that, and we’re going to keep it going.”
Watch his comments below:
Last month, Axios reported Trump criticized DeSantis and suggested he has a “dull personality.”
One source told the outlet, “In the context of the 2024 election, he usually gives DeSantis a pop in the nose in the middle of that type of conversation,” adding, “He says DeSantis has no personal charisma and has a dull personality.”
Another source claimed Trump is frustrated “that Ron DeSantis won’t say he won’t run [in 2024]. … The others have stated pretty clearly they won’t challenge him.”
During his interview with Fox News, DeSantis declined to say whether he would run against Trump in 2024. He also suggested the sources close to the former president who made the “dull personality” comment could be because of efforts by the Democrats and media to fuel division.
“No. I mean, look, I think that what they’re trying to do is they’re Biden. They did all they could to get Biden elected. OK. They lied about Trump for four years. They did everything they could to get Biden elected, the guy who campaigned from his basement. They never asked any questions about that,” DeSantis said.
He added, “Well, now he gets in. And he had a disastrous first year as president said the worst first year president of any president since the 1800s. People compare him to Jimmy Carter. Carter was much more successful his first year than Biden has been.”
DeSantis then accused Democrats of “trying to change the topic, and they’re trying to drive dissension among Republicans. And so my message to people is, don’t take that bait.”
He continued, “Understand what they’re trying to do.”
