DeSantis ‘surprised’ by Trump attacking him ‘from the left’: ‘I don’t know what happened to Donald Trump’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Continuing a round of media interviews, presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis pondered to primary voters weighing their options why former President Donald Trump is attacking the governor “from the left.”
His campaign strategy unfolding, the governor touched on a plethora of contrasts between himself and the former president, finally doing so by name after months of speculation.
“I think that some of the things he’s been attacking me on, I’ve been a little surprised at, because he’s attacking me from the left and that really wasn’t the Donald Trump from 2015 and 2016,” DeSantis said in an interview with Eric Bolling.
“I mean, he was a hard charger leaning in on all the issues, very edgy on conservative issues and it was part of the reason he did so well,” the governor continued. “But when he’s taken Disney’s side against me, I just kind of wonder like, OK, I get, he wants to hit me but don’t take the side of a multinational corporation that wants to sexualize kids.”
Those attacks against DeSantis came as the governor continued his war on the corporation’s self-governing status in Central Florida.
“[DeSantis’] original P.R. plan fizzled, so now he’s going back with a new one in order to save face,” Trump said. “Disney’s next move will be the announcement that no more money will be invested in Florida because of the Governor – In fact, they could even announce a slow withdrawal or sale of certain properties, or the whole thing. Watch!”
Trump called the fight “unnecessary” and a “political STUNT!”
Continuing his criticisms, DeSantis also hit Trump for attacking him on voting against an immigration bill that included wall funding.
“That bill was a two million person amnesty for illegal aliens. Very little money for any border security. All conservatives opposed it,” he said, referring to the compromise with Democrats compared to one without amnesty.
“To hit me for being taken the America first position? I just think is a little little strange,” DeSantis said.
In another radio interview, DeSantis criticized the former president for “going left on a lot of the fiscal” and “culture” issues.
“He is siding with Disney and saying that I was wrong for standing up with them,” he said on the Matt Murphy Show. “So, you know, people have to make their decisions about which way they go.”
“I don’t know what happened to Donald Trump,” DeSantis said. “This is a different guy today than when he was running in 2015 and 2016. And I think, I think the direction that he’s going with his campaign is the wrong direction.”
The governor also responded to the notion that he is a “establishment Republican” in leagues with former House Speaker Paul Ryan or Karl Rove.
“I have not spoke to Paul Ryan since I’ve been governor,” he said. “I’ve met Karl Rove once in my life. They are not involved in my political operation, so that’s just manufactured garbage.”
How many establishment Republicans would have sent illegal aliens to Martha’s Vineyard? How many establishment Republicans would have stood up against Disney? How many establishment Republicans would have signed the bill that I just signed to ban land purchases from people affiliated with the CCP in the state of Florida? We’re now being sued by the ACLU for that. How many establishment Republicans would have leaned in to support our children against the pronoun Olympics … How many establishment Republicans would have banned gender transition surgeries for minors?
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Newsmax with Eric Bolling, May 25, 2023.
DeSantis’ campaign, hoping to achieve momentum and overcome the former president, will be visiting several early primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina next week.
