Report: Ron DeSantis’ national ambitions make waves in Donald Trump’s GOP
Both Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump fare well in Nevada. Image via AP.

desantis trump
Is there a rift between the former President and Florida's Governor?

A new report from Vanity Fair aggregates even more evidence Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to be President.

“2016 on steroids” depicts a DeSantis who is angling very directly for 2024, in such a way that former President Donald Trump is purportedly riled, yet ready to pick him as a running mate.

At issue are the early days of 2024 jockeying in a race that, as Vanity Fair describes, is “either entirely wide open or over before it begins.” The big question is whether Trump will again run for President.

With that question mark, it appears DeSantis may be hedging his bets, campaigning for the top job, but also positioned for the Vice Presidential spot at the same time.

“Trump f***ing hates DeSantis. He just resents his popularity,” one unidentified “Trump confidant” told Vanity Fair’s Gabriel Sherman.,

Sherman also claims former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s “people are building up DeSantis as the leader of the Republican Party to piss Trump off,” and offered some takes on how DeSantis may have aggrieved Trump, who has claimed for years, according to Vanity Fair, that he “made Ron” a viable contender for Governor.

Among the purported grievances: DeSantis prematurely committed Trump to speak at the Florida GOP Statesman’s Dinner in 2019; he didn’t close beaches in 2020 despite Trump’s wishes; and the Governor skipped a Trump rally while appearing instead with President Joe Biden in Surfside after the Champlain Tower South collapse.

Also worth noting, Trump continues to work with Susie Wiles, the veteran politico who was instrumental to DeSantis’ win in 2018 but was jettisoned unceremoniously by DeSantis soon after.

The Vanity Fair writeup suggests DeSantis will continue to be coy about his ultimate goal.

“DeSantis needs to walk a tightrope as he seeks to position himself for a 2024 run. According to a source, DeSantis has told donors that he won’t openly campaign in Iowa or New Hampshire before his 2022 Florida reelection campaign,” Sherman writes.

Ultimately, at least one Sherman source expects Trump to offer DeSantis VP, a historically thankless slot in the Trump orbit if Mike Pence‘s experience is any guide.

Also on display is a depiction of what DeSantis does when slighted. He reportedly bailed on the Republican Governor’s Association meeting, where Nikki Haley was to speak, to address his own cadre of donors miles away.

The Vanity Fair writeup closes out a week DeSantis started by ducking questions from Florida Politics about his latest trip out of state for political fundraising.

Florida Politics asked the question four times, but DeSantis did not want to discuss the sojourn to New Jersey.

The New Jersey Globe reports the “high dollar event in Deal hosted by real estate developer Joe Cayre” was DeSantis’ second Garden State getaway since April.

2022 gubernatorial opponents took notice.

“This isn’t the first time he’s abandoned sick and dying Floridians to cash grab for his campaign out-of-state. It’s unacceptable and inexcusable. He clearly values political money more than his job protecting Floridians,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Governor.

“Ron DeSantis cares more about out-of-state dollars than he cares about in-state human beings,” tweeted U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist.

The Vanity Fair piece depicts DeSantis as the front-runner, but invokes examples of other collapsed former front-runners, such as Wisconsin footnote Scott Walker, a Governor who like DeSantis stoked passions on the right some years back.

DeSantis is cooling also with people who are actually betting on 2024 Presidential races this early.

Boyle Sports sounded a warning this week about his Republican Primary odds with a piece entitled, “Punters Abandon Ron DeSantis White House Bid As Odds Drift To 4/1 From 2/1.”

A spokesperson for Boyle explained the exodus.

“Ron DeSantis has been a very popular feature of our early 2024 betting, but in recent days we’re beginning to notice evidence that opinion is starting to turn. COVID-19 rates in Florida are trending in the wrong direction and with DeSantis eased out to 4/1 from 2/1, punters are now looking at Donald Trump as the most likely Republican candidate.”

Questions abound, meanwhile, about whether DeSantis could even carry Florida if he was atop the ticket. A new Quinnipiac Poll suggests nearly 60% of Floridians don’t want him to run for President.

Of the 833 registered Florida voters surveyed, in what was an R+2 poll, 59% don’t want DeSantis to run for President, while just 35% back the concept.

Not even all Republicans want to see it. While 67% are open to a President DeSantis, a full 24% aren’t. A full 61% of independent voters are opposed, also, with just 35% backing a DeSantis 2024 run.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


10 comments

  • Richard Hoard

    September 3, 2021 at 11:51 am

    Work for 2-3 hours 1n your spare OO time and get paid $1200 0n y0ur bank acc0unt every week…

    Get more information 0n f0ll0wing site….. http://moneystar7.gq/

  • Alex

    September 3, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    Trump’s narcissism makes him insanely jealous of anyone who is, or may soon be getting more attention than he does.

    And narcissists never have partners unless forced to, and will never pick anyone popular or even competent.

    However I doubt Trump will run, he’ll just make lots of noise to get attention.

    His fragile self esteem can’t take the risk of losing again.

  • Bennett Marco

    September 3, 2021 at 2:39 pm

    Joe Biden, the greatest vote getter in American presidential election history, will be re-elected easily besting Orange Filth or DeathSantis or whoever the repug morons put up in 2024.

  • Wanda

    September 3, 2021 at 4:46 pm

    Biden will win hands down The people don’t want two dictator in the White House vote blue in 2022

    • Tom

      September 4, 2021 at 8:24 am

      Marco do you change his depends?
      Wanda the bed pan.
      Alex, you can bathe him.
      He’s a joke, asleep at wheel is understatement for this potus.
      He actually fell asleep in Oval with Israeli PM, it’s on camera you cocoon liberals.

      What a fake story from vanity fair that gave us fake mueller report. Hate and deception.

      Gov Ron better off not being on any ticket. Liberal scream in total meltdown over America’s Gov.
      Dems running fake polls, DeSantis political phenom, whiz kid youngest Gov in country polls over a third vs 70’s guy , whose been on national ticket 3x. No comparison, on name ID and general familiarity. Biden under 50%, total takedown in play.

      Gov Ron defeated incompetent Gillum, will trounce Harris. 41% approval/53% want him resign.

      Wait for the 49 seat net Repub House win.

      LMAO.

      Biden had no chance at all in 3 yrs.
      Total disaster.

  • Tom

    September 4, 2021 at 8:11 am

    LMAO when incompetent Dummycrat haters comment on past GOP POTUS & present great America’s Governor.

    Of course you fools don’t want to discuss your incompetence.

    Yesterday’s Unemployment report, 235,000 only, estimated 750,000.

    African American unemployment rate actually went up. From 8.2% to 8.9%, wow Biden/Harris.
    Surrender Debacle, disaster in Afghanistan. Leave everyone behind.
    Southern border disaster.
    Cities disaster.
    Jobs disaster.
    Biden the incompetent 70’s guy.

    41% approval for Biden.
    53% want him to resign.
    Negative 11 in Florida assures Gov Ron’s re elect.

    Incompetence Dummycrats, congrats.

  • Tom

    September 4, 2021 at 10:14 am

    Additional incompetence from Biden/Harris.
    No FDA commissioner appointed 8 months in.
    Only a 100 yr pandemic in play.

    Also, new scandal. Two senior doc/scientists resigned this week over Biden WH interfering on demanding booster shots. Of course Pfizer, Biden org got their approval for booster,. Remember, how they withheld the vaccine till week after election. Come on you Dumcrat Manchurians, how’s the ethics?

  • PeterH

    September 4, 2021 at 12:43 pm

    Today’s GQP champions “party” before “country!” If Trump has taught the GQP only three things …… those three things would be lying, grifting and conspiracy theories.

    This emasculated visionless apocalypse didn’t start with Donald Trump but it will end with the red hat traitors to our Constitution.

    Today’s Republican Party must be destroyed before it can be rebuilt. The only lesson that McCarthy, Ryan, Jordan, DeSantis and other members of Republican Bobby Jindal’s “PARTY OF STUPIDS” will understand is election defeat.

    Throw the MAGA idiots out…..BEFORE they destroy our great country. Join us at the Lincoln Project and learn what fiscal conservatism was all about before third rate incompetents like Ronald Reagan attached fake religious zealots and immigration nutcases like Steven Miller to the once great Republican Party.

  • Tom

    September 4, 2021 at 1:39 pm

    Yes peter h from predator Lincoln org,
    Shameful. How’s Rick Wilson?

    Biden administration destroying prosperity.
    Minority unemployment rose month to month for minorities.
    No jobs and no workers. 225,000 jobs only out of estimated 750, 000.
    BidenHarris, Democrats lose jobs In America.
    No hope. Stagflation is here.
    Trump economy best recorded ever In 2018,19, Jan/feb 20.

Comments are closed.


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