Carlos Gimenez opens up on support for Trump over DeSantis

DES MOINES, Iowa (FLV) – U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., opened up about his decision to support former President Donald Trump at the Iowa State Fair, choosing Trump over his fellow Floridian, Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Gimenez discussed his unique perspective as an immigrant from Cuba and his concerns about the direction of the country.

Gimenez, the only member of Congress born in Cuba, highlighted his support for Trump, emphasizing that he believed Trump was the right candidate for the job.

Drawing parallels between his experiences in Cuba and certain trends he sees in the United States, Gimenez expressed his desire to prevent the country from moving towards communism.

“I supported the president. I think he’s the right person for the job. Like I told the people of Iowa, I came from another country. I had to flee my country. I see many of the same things that happened in my own country of Cuba,” Gimenez told Fox. “Not exactly, but some signs of the same things that are starting to happen here.”

Gimenez’s visit to the Iowa State Fair was marked by his participation alongside Trump, as well as other Republican U.S. House members from Florida.

Trump’s presence at the fair, along with the show of support from several representatives, underscored the political dynamics within the Republican Party.

Speaking about Trump’s ongoing legal battles and the perception of fairness among Americans, Gimenez noted, “Americans are patently fair. They want fairness, they want justice. And they just don’t see that happening right now.”

He drew comparisons to political situations in Nicaragua and raised questions about the motivations behind some legal actions.

“They see what reminiscent to me of a Third World country,” he said. “You know, Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, one way he won the presidency was basically by jailing all of his opponents.” 

As Trump’s trial and legal proceedings unfold, Gimenez stressed that a significant portion of the Republican base remains steadfast in their support for the former president.

“The base is with him, the base will stick with him,” he said of Trump. “I believe there’s 35, 40% of the Republican base that will never leave…. And, you know, that puts everybody at a disadvantage because he’s starting out at 40% and everybody’s starting zero.” 

The Iowa State Fair served as a stage for this political showdown, highlighting the complexity of the upcoming presidential election cycle.