Matt Gaetz praises DeSantis’ governorship, criticizes presidential bid
DYERSVILLE, Iowa (FLV) – Rep. Matt Gaetz criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for comments he made off the arrest of former President Donald Trump in Atlanta Thursday night.
During a campaign stop Thursday evening at Iowa’s historic Field of Dreams, a reporter asked DeSantis what he thought about the “split screen” of the governor being there, while Trump was being processed at the Fulton County Jail.
“Well I’m glad I’m at the Field of Dreams. I’m happy to be here,” DeSantis replied.
Gaetz took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice his opinion.
“I like Ron DeSantis,” he said. “Ron DeSantis is a terrific governor.”
“Ron DeSantis isn’t having a good time,” he added.
The two public officials have been long-time political allies during their shared years in congress and while DeSantis has been governor of Florida.
However, Gaetz has endorsed Trump in the primary and has been more critical of DeSantis’ presidential run.
In early August, the congressman called DeSantis “thirsty” for inviting Vice President Kamala Harris back to Florida to resolve the dispute on the state’s African American curriculum concerns.
Gaetz also criticized DeSantis for saying that his debate skills played a major roll in winning his elections. The congressman argued that he deserves credit since he “coached DeSantis” throughout his gubernatorial campaigns.
A tape was released in May that showed Gaetz preparing DeSantis for his gubernatorial debate against Democratic nominee Andrew Gillium in 2018.
In the video, Gaetz asked then-Congressman DeSantis if he and Trump had any political disagreements.
“Obviously there is because, I mean, I voted contrary to him in the Congress,” DeSantis continued. “I have to frame it in a way that’s not going to piss off all his voters.”
Gaetz attended the first Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday night as a Trump surrogate.
Meanwhile, the former president could be viewed doing a pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson. The move came after Trump decided not to participate in the debates.
