DeSantis reacts to Trump, 2024, and more in new interview

By Eric Daugherty

Published Mar. 23, 2023, 3:58 p.m. ET | Updated Mar. 23, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks with Piers Morgan in Tallahassee, Fla., aired on March 23, 2023. (Video/Fox Nation)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – In a new interview with Piers Morgan, Gov. Ron DeSantis opened up on key political developments and issues as the 2024 GOP primary season enters its early stages.

DeSantis has said he is considering a run for president and recently launched a new book, “The Courage to Be Free,” which advocates for America at-large to adopt DeSantis’ methodology of governance.

In the interview, DeSantis got more direct about his ambitions, and said he believes he has the qualities that make a good American president.

Scroll below for major clips from the full interview, as aired on Fox Nation:

DeSantis: "I think they want a fresh start […] We'll be very vocal about that."

Morgan: "Do you think you could beat Biden?"

DeSantis: "I think so."

Morgan: "So, you're running then?"

DeSantis: "No, I didn't say that. I just said, I think I could." pic.twitter.com/wFOOPuDCr7
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

WATCH: DeSantis on how he's different from Trump

"I would've fired somebody like Fauci […] I'd get personnel in the government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda. If you bring your own agenda in, you're gone […] No daily drama, focus on the big picture." pic.twitter.com/oMHyaPTFez
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

WATCH: @PiersMorgan compares DeSantis to Frankenstein's "you have created a monster, and it will destroy you"

DeSantis: "And you're alluding to what? *Laughter*"

"You know the parallel I'm making."

DeSantis: "I'm a vessel for the aspirations of the people I represent." pic.twitter.com/IwzY6DoDK3
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

NEW: DeSantis doubles down on defending Trump from D.A. Bragg

"This guy's on the left [and] you're gonna go after somebody on the other side for some novel offense? […] It's fundamentally wrong to do that." pic.twitter.com/AZO9YOan2w
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

WATCH: DeSantis is asked if he prefers 'DeSanctimonious' or 'Meatball Ron'

"Well, I don't know how to spell DeSanctimonious, I don't really know what it means […] You can call me whatever you want, as long as you call me a winner." pic.twitter.com/Gzzasi4DlK
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

WATCH: DeSantis asked about "scandal" of purportedly eating pudding with three fingers

"Maybe when I was a kid […] Sometimes they have really good ammunitation […] For me, they're talking about pudding? Like, is that really the best you got? Ok, bring it on!" pic.twitter.com/2wU5h9APrk
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

Ron DeSantis on his wife @CaseyDeSantis : "She gets more beautiful as she gets older […] She's prettier in '23 than she was in 2019. And she had a kid, she went through four years of this nonsense, and she beat breast cancer." pic.twitter.com/UmQKc8EbB7
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

RON DESANTIS: "They would say, 'Oh, he doesn't do well with donors.' […] And yet I raise more money than any nonpresidential candidate in the history of America. Are you kidding me? […] I deal better with regular people." pic.twitter.com/VoPegI9aYR
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

DeSantis reacts to being called "racist," "cruel, sadistic, stupid, repulsive, ghoulish"

"They see me over the target […] Those are all people on the left […] All I do is I look at my constitutional powers and I govern in a way to advance the principles that I believe in." pic.twitter.com/xtt9Rge6da
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

NEW: DeSantis says some U.S. presence in the Middle East made things worse

"Has the Middle East gotten better as a result of [invasion of Iraq]? I think Iran has gotten stronger as a result of that conflict." pic.twitter.com/gOZOw2ufeu
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

WATCH: DeSantis says Taiwan is a "strong ally" and "critical interest" for the U.S.

"The number one issue that we face internationally is checking the growth of China." pic.twitter.com/6rAoS4ybgB
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023

DeSantis slams transgender athletes competing as women

"It's taking away opportunities from girls and women athletes […] We're not gonna take away that opportunity from these young girls." pic.twitter.com/mnWT6K0yUQ
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 23, 2023