Donald Trump campaign raises specter of Ron DeSantis resign-to-run ‘flip flop’
Are Trump and DeSantis even talking these days?

trump-desantis-2024
The Governor's political travel is under scrutiny from the former President.

Under current law, Gov. Ron DeSantis may have to resign his office to run for President. A potential 2024 opponent is raising questions about that potential “flip flop.”

In a  memo, the Donald Trump campaign is broaching the question of DeSantis abandoning Tallahassee for a snowy winter in Iowa and New Hampshire.

“Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to campaign full-time for president, during the Florida legislative session, while collecting a salary and having the taxpayers pick up the costs for his travel and security. It’s a massive flip-flop from his position in 2018,” said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung.

“To make matters worse, DeSantis’ upcoming taxpayer-funded campaign travel appears to put him at odds with Florida’s existing ‘Resign to Run’ law.”

Both House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo have said they are open to a DeSantis run, with Renner noting that the legislative position is historically “inconsistent.” The current law requires resignations to be submitted at least 10 days before qualifying to run, with the resignations effective when the officials would take the new offices or when their successors would take office.

The Trump campaign holds that DeSantis is already running for office.

“DeSantis is leaving Florida to campaign in Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Utah, Texas, (and) South Carolina. DeSantis also plans to visit Israel and the U.K. in April to score some last-minute foreign policy credentials for his 2024 presidential campaign, and it is now being reported that DeSantis will also visit Japan and Korea as part of his taxpayer-funded globetrotting.”

As well, the Trump camp frets that “DeSantis’ upcoming 2024 presidential campaign travel occurs while the Florida Legislature is in-session, and before DeSantis has formed a campaign committee to pay for his travel. This means that in addition to his salary, Florida taxpayers are on the hook for travel and security costs.”

The memo from the Trump campaign comes as a number of Florida members of Congress, including U.S. Rep. Cory Mills on Monday, have endorsed Trump over DeSantis. It follows up a Trump Truth Social post that seems to coax DeSantis into abandoning 2024 hopes.

“Ron DeSantis is a young man who is not doing well against me in the polls, to put it mildly. I believe that if he decides to run for President, which will only hurt and somewhat divide the Republican Party, he will lose the cherished and massive MAGA vote, and never be able to successfully run for office again,” Trump wrote Monday.

“If he remains Governor, which is what Florida voters assumed, it would be a whole different story….JUST SAYIN’ – But who knows?”

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


8 comments

  • Billy the Strip Mall Squatter

    April 10, 2023 at 4:33 pm

    He’s secretly convincing people not to vote for the washed up orange cartoon character. Won’t matter come 2024 because neither one of them will win. That’s what is so funny about this epic pig fight.😆

  • Earl Pitts American

    April 10, 2023 at 5:27 pm

    Good evening America,
    When I, Earl Pitts American Political Advisor, flip the switch Don’s going to throw his supporters behind Ron. By then it will be too late for Democrats

    • Bert Stimson

      April 10, 2023 at 11:11 pm

      Better watch out Earl, Tiny D is working to “flip the switch” on groomers in Florida soon!

  • B Peters

    April 10, 2023 at 7:27 pm

    It’s certainly time to make a decision Ron, you’re campaigning on Florida’s taxpayers shoulders. You’re skirting the “resign to run’ law and if anyone else was holding an office while campaigning you wouldn’t let them rest until they made it official and resigned. There’s no reason for you to be traveling throughout the United States and to foreign lands while are governor of Florida.
    Oh! That’s right, you’re promoting your book! No, if that’s what was going on, you’d be paying the costs of your travel out of your own pocket. Time to be a big boy and decide what you’re actually doing. You don’t get to guarantee your job in case you lose.

  • Earl Pitts is a Pedophile

    April 10, 2023 at 9:09 pm

    Earl Pitts is a convicted pedophile
    Link to his file is in my username.

    Lewd, Lascivious batt sex w/victim 12-15 years old; F.S. 800.04(4)(a)

  • Over Trump

    April 11, 2023 at 11:31 am

    How do they know what money he’s using? Give me a break

    • [email protected]

      April 12, 2023 at 11:45 am

      Well if you was using his own money he would certainly make it known to the media. I’m certain we all know that we are paying his bill

  • Margaret

    April 11, 2023 at 12:46 pm

    Leave DeSantis be. His overexposure to the rest of the country will be the ultimate take down. To know him is not to love him. The era of vile politics is coming to an end, because the young people of this country are sick of the corruption and cynicism from the Republican Party and its minions.
    Let DeSantis continue to rack up more and more unethical behaviors, and it will be the “rope” that “hangs” himself.

Comments are closed.


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