DeSantis: Trump less likely to win, ‘corporate media’ wants him as GOP nominee

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis reportedly took part in a private phone call organized by a supportive super PAC where he casted doubt on former President Donald Trump’s 2024 chances.

President Joe Biden is running for reelection, and the Florida governor believes only Biden and himself have “a chance to get elected president.”

“You have basically three people at this point that are credible in this whole thing,” DeSantis reportedly said. “Biden, Trump and me.” 

“And I think of those three, two have a chance to get elected president — Biden and me, based on all the data in the swing states, which is not great for the former president and probably insurmountable because people aren’t going to change their view of him.”

DeSantis also reportedly said that the “corporate media wants Trump to be the nominee” for Republicans in 2024.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said that DeSantis’ arguments are based on “what consultants tell candidates to manipulate and bamboozle them.”

Earlier this week, Cheung claimed that endorsements from Florida’s state-level GOP lawmakers, of which DeSantis locked down nearly all at 99, came as a result of veto threats.

DeSantis’ team and Florida lawmakers did not respond to Florida’s Voice’s request for comment on the claims, but one lawmaker who endorsed DeSantis – Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach – disputed that notion.

“I am only a sample of one, but it is complete crap to say legislators were threatened with budget vetoes — or retribution of any kind — to get them to endorse @RonDeSantisFL,” Fine said publicly.

Trump, on the other hand, has strong support from the Sunshine State’s D.C. delegation to Congress.

DeSantis has not yet announced a 2024 bid, but is reportedly inching closer to filing the official paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, potentially next week.