Trump campaign releases lengthy statement trashing Florida: ‘Misery and despair’
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (FLV) – As a potential announcement for president in 2024 from Gov. Ron DeSantis nears, former President Donald Trump’s campaign has ramped up attacks against the governor.
After a blitz of endorsements from representatives in DeSantis’ home state, Trump’s campaign Friday released “The Real Ron DeSantis Playbook,” which contains a long list of reasons Florida “continues to tumble into complete and total delinquency and destruction.”
“The real DeSantis record is one of misery and despair,” campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said. “He has left a wake of destruction all across Florida and people are hurting because he has spent more time playing public relations games instead of actually doing the hard-work needed to improve the lives of the people he represents.”
The campaign focused on Florida reportedly being “one of the least affordable states to live in the country” and linked to a Substack post from frequent DeSantis critic Jason Garcia who argued the governor raised taxes by more than $1 billion during his first term.
Garcia noted that the governor cut taxes by “more than $4 billion overall.”
In February, DeSantis proposed an additional $2 billion in tax relief. Last year, he signed one of the largest relief packages in state history.
They cited other media reports on the rising cost of living in some Florida cities.
Several of their cited reports came from left-leaning sources.
The Florida Policy Institute was cited, which was founded in 2014 as a “left-leaning policy research and advocacy organization.”
So was Oxfam, a “left-of-center” organization.
They also cited the National Low Income Housing Coalition, whose president and CEO is Diane Yentel, a supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The campaign pointed to the floods in Southeast Florida resulting in fuel shortages, to which the DeSantis administration has been responding with hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel and deploying millions for small business relief.
They went on to reference other claims and reports that DeSantis ranks low on economic opportunity, in places to retire, in places to raise a family, in fair taxes, for energy affordability, to rent a home, to be a teacher, to be a doctor, and even to be a police officer.
The release came the day after Trump hosted members of Florida’s D.C. Congressional delegation who endorsed his 2024 candidacy.
Over the past couple days, Trump added Florida Republican Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Mike Waltz, Vern Buchanan and Brian Mast to his increasingly long list of Florida endorsements.
He also recently gained the 2024 endorsement of other Florida Republican Reps. John Rutherford, Greg Steube, Cory Mills, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz and Anna Paulina Luna.
Steube on Friday also criticized state-level lawmakers for helping DeSantis in his “unannounced presidential campaign.”
“Sad to see the Florida House and Senate, two bodies I had the honor to serve in, carrying the water for an unannounced presidential campaign,” Steube said on Twitter.
“To my fellow elected officials serving in Tallahassee, your constituents voted you into those positions to represent them, not to kowtow to the presidential ambitions of a Governor! Be strong and courageous, the people of Florida will thank you,” Steube continued.
In contrast to the Trump campaign’s approach, Donalds, who has long supported both Trump and DeSantis, said on Fox News that “two things can be true.”
“1. DeSantis is a great governor. 2. Trump was a great POTUS, and we need him back,” Donalds said. “My support for President Trump doesn’t change my appreciation for Governor DeSantis and his leadership that has improved our state.”
“Trump did the job great once, and he can do it again. #Trump2024.”
DeSantis has indicated a potential 2024 announcement would come after the Florida Legislature wraps up its session in May.
