DeSantis: I have what it takes to be president, and I would’ve fired Fauci.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – In an exclusive interview with Piers Morgan, Gov. Ron DeSantis candidly spoke about his thoughts on recent developments in the 2024 presidential campaign season, with former President Donald Trump routinely firing off attacks against the Sunshine State governor.

DeSantis is not running for president yet, but said if he did, he’s ready to defeat President Joe Biden – and Trump.

“If I were to run,” he said, “I’m running against Biden. Like we [him and Trump] are competing for the Republican, potentially, I get that, but ultimately you know the guy I’m gonna focus on is Biden because I think he’s failed the country. I think the country wants a change. I think they want a fresh start and a new direction and so we’ll be very vocal about that.”

Morgan said DeSantis replied “unhesitatingly” and “emphatically” on whether he could defeat Biden.

DeSantis was asked about how he differs from Trump, to which DeSantis pointed to his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and personnel decisions.

“Well I think there’s a few things. The approach to COVID was different. I would have fired somebody like Fauci. I think he got way too big for his britches, and I think he did a lot of damage,” he said.

“I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership, I get personnel in the Government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda,” DeSantis said. “You bring your own agenda in you’re gone. We’re just not gonna have that.”

“So, the way we run the Government I think is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board and I think that’s something that’s very important.”

DeSantis was asked about “personal conduct,” to which he pointed “people like our Founding Fathers.”

“I think the person is more about how you handle your public duties and the kind of character you bring to that endeavor,” he said.

DeSantis called insults and attacks from Trump and other political opponents as “background noise.”

“It’s not important for me to be fighting with people on social media. It’s not accomplishing anything for the people I represent,” he said.

On the nicknames, like “Ron DeSanctimonious,” DeSantis said, “I kinda like it.”

“It’s long, it’s got a lot of vowels […] You can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner because that’s what we’ve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this State to the next level.”

Morgan joked that DeSantis is akin to a Frankenstein-type “creation” from Trump, which may now “overthrow” his creator.

“Let’s put the country first rather than worry about any personalities or any type of individual . . . at the end of the day, I’m a vessel for the aspirations of the people I represent. It’s not about me, as Ronald Reagan said, ‘there’s no limit to what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit,'” DeSantis replied.

DeSantis noted he used to defend Trump on false Russian collusion allegations after the 2016 election, but believes his re-election victory in 2022 caused things to turn for the worst.”

“You made a fatal error in your relationship with Donald Trump,” Morgan said. “You got too popular,” to which DeSantis laughed.

“Well, I would say if you look at some of the change from that . . . the major thing that’s happened that’s changed his tune was my re-election victory.”

On the midterms, where Republicans performed worse than expected, DeSantis commented on whether an endorsement does well, saying he wants “them to eclipse me.”

“We’re setting a great standard in Florida, have everyone up their game.”

The governor told Morgan he has not made a “final decision” on running for president, and will take the next several months to think about it.

“We’re gonna put a lot of points on the board. And then we’ll see how the dust settles after that, but I can tell you a lot of people realize the country is not going in the right direction and believe that what we’ve been able to do in Florida, if we can apply that nationally, we can get America back on track and back on our foundations,” he said.

“And so, I take that very seriously, it’s humbling that people have come to me and asked me to do it or urged me to do it. So, stay tuned.”

The governor did cast doubt on it, though, saying he has a “young family” and doesn’t “need a title.”

“I don’t need fanfare. I just want to know that if I put my mind to this, if we ever did that, and we’re successful, what could I do to make a difference and that’s what I have to have,” he said.

“I think what it takes is to have a vision for the country, have the ability to exercise leadership and being willing to stand in that fire when it gets really hot and not back down under pressure . . . and I think I have all those things.”

The full interview is set to air on Fox Nation on Thursday.