DeSantis indirectly tells Trump: ‘Nobody is entitled to anything,’ ‘You’ve got to earn it.’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Fox News host Trey Gowdy asked Gov. Ron DeSantis his thoughts on “any candidate that were maybe equivocating” on not participating in the 2024 GOP primary debates.
Though not directly named, former President Donald Trump was recently widely reported to potentially skipping one or more of the GOP primary debates.
DeSantis issued a response that not only spoke to the idea that Trump may not join the Florida governor and other candidates on a debate stage, but that Trump is “entitled” or “deserves” the 2024 nomination.
“I think we should debate. I think the people want to hear it,” he said. “You know, I grew up blue collar working minimum wage jobs and learned nobody is entitled to anything in this world.”
“You’ve got to earn it,” DeSantis continued. “And I think all of us have to go out and earn it. That’s exactly what I intend to do. And I think the debates are a big part of the process.”
In 2016, Trump was famous for out-showing all of his GOP primary rivals at the debates, early predicted to lose by many but later winning the party’s nomination and going on to defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
He was asked if he’d be able to unite Republicans, assuming he defeated Trump in a bloody primary.
“We [really] expanded the tent [of the Republican Party],” he said of his 2022 victory.
“There’ll be slings and arrows, but I’m a big boy. I can take it,” he said.
DeSantis’ Fox News appearance occurred later on Wednesday night after his Twitter campaign launch.
The governor was asked about what his first actions would be as “President DeSantis.“
“The border – there’s a lot you can do,” he said, previously saying he’d “shut down” the border and build the wall.
“Ripping out Biden’s anti American energy policies, which you probably could do most of that executive,” he continued. “And then re-constitutionalize the administrative state, we have a bureaucracy that’s totally out of control.”
“You need to be willing to use Article II power to bring the administrative state to heel,” the governor said.
“I think Congress also has a role in reining in the abuses through both the power of the purse, and through making sure that they’re legislating clear and defined laws that aren’t delegating huge swaths of power to unelected bureaucrats.”
DeSantis will travel to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina starting on May 30 and extending through June 2.
DeSantis’ campaign announced the tour the morning after his big announcement.
The governor faces an uphill battle, going up against months of poll numbers showing him down upwards of 30-to-40 points to Trump in national and some state primary polls.
