A.G. Gancarski
More than half of Florida’s Republican congressional delegation has endorsed Donald Trump for President at this point, yet one member has been the most emphatic in his support — and criticism of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
U.S. Rep. Greg Steube continues to litigate his grievances against DeSantis, and a receptive national audience is proving more than willing to listen.
The Bradenton Republican filled in Fox News Radio listeners on what led him to endorse the former President, and the transactional way the Governor’s team approached him trying to secure his support before that happened.
“Well, part of it was because the DeSantis team started pinging people. Now, I’ve never had a conversation with any of them. I’ve never had a conversation with Gov. DeSantis. Like, he’s never reached out to me. When I’ve tried to reach out to him to discuss issues, I don’t get a response. And suddenly his team is suddenly reaching out,” Steube told host Jimmy Failla.
Steube suggested DeSantis’ camp reached out because the timing was convenient.
“I think it was really their team trying to push people because DeSantis was going to be in Washington this past week. And he was. I’ve always supported the President. I’ve always been Team Trump. I was kind of waiting until things started working out. We have a Governor who hasn’t even announced that he’s running for President,” Steube said. “And so I didn’t really think that the timing needed to happen.”
Meanwhile, the endorsements have gone the way of the former President in recent days.
“As soon as I got involved and announced my support for the President, then Vern Buchanan did, then Gus Bilirakis did, then John Rutherford did, then Brian Mast did, and we kind of had this flurry of activity because there was so much focus, I think, this past week on those two races.”
The radio hit wasn’t Steube’s only commentary on the process. The Congressman also lambasted Florida legislators Friday on Twitter.
“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 lamented.
He began his day on Fox News, where he made similar points in an interview with Bill Hemmer.
“There’s been events in my district that I was specifically told (that) I couldn’t be part of the press conference. I was told to go stand in the corner. I was not allowed to be participating in (events) when he was in my district,” Steube said of DeSantis.
“You can’t win friends and influence people that way, especially in the political realm. And, there’s been many things (about which) I’ve reached out to him. I walked up to him, gave him my cell phone number and said, ‘Hey, I need to talk to you about Lake Okeechobee,’ when I first got elected. And not even a person from his staff called me back.”
These gripes really began in earnest Wednesday, when Steube derided DeSantis’ lack of personal touch to POLITICO Playbook. In that interview, he noted “DeSantis political person,” Ryan Tyson, was the point of contact to DeSantis world.
What’s clear: after years of snubbing from the Governor, the Congressman had enough.
7 comments
Pill Mill Squatter Bill McClure
April 21, 2023 at 6:14 pm
If I was DeSantis, I wouldn’t call them either. Buncha hogs and dogs…who were gonna endorse Trump anyway. He should have shot down some of their stupid religious legislation.
Bossa de rosa
April 21, 2023 at 6:28 pm
As the republic burns and Trump moves left, further screwing over his voters, the selfish whining of career mediocrities like Steube about how they haven’t been stroked becomes intolerable. The dufus he supports cares about no one but himself, but here Steube is, whining, “the other guy doesn’t care about meeeeee!”
Steube just wishes he could be Trump, a self-centered bullying a-hole who attracts media attention, because he knows he could never be a person of actual accomplishment.
Sadly, Steube may actually be the one who “represents” the people of his district in the truest sense of the word; do they really deserve a better alternative that actually gets things done, or do they really just want to b—h and moan like the alco- and rage- aholics they are and “be right” after a fourth consecutive Trump loss (2018-20-22-2024)? Methinks the latter.
Mike Thompson
April 21, 2023 at 9:10 pm
‘As the Republic burns blah blah blah” please. Stop with the melodrama and take your head out of Meatball Ron’s ass. What a pathetic loser, honestly. DeSantis is an awful retail politician with NO plans for how to save your precious Republic. He just screams about wokeness and does nothing to address healthcare costs, housing affordability, skyrocketing insurance costs, or anything else actually impacting Floridians. People like you are the reason this country sucks.
Ocean Joe
April 21, 2023 at 6:37 pm
Don’t call me, I’ll call you…if I need something.
What goes around comes around.
Cold fish meet cold hard reality.
Even Nixon could slap backs and sing ‘Home on the Range’
These prima donnas expect to be treated like equals, not inmates at Guantanamo.
Del Boca Vista
April 21, 2023 at 6:50 pm
DeSantis is the only politician that can make Trump look like a good guy.
Dont Say FLA
April 22, 2023 at 3:29 pm
Get a clue grandpa. Nobody calls anybody anymore.
MH/Duuval
April 24, 2023 at 10:02 am
Really? So why is it that Ron and Don avoid written communications — which subsequently can be subpoenaed — and rely on the telephone and personal interaction?
Today’s GOP operates like the Mob — down to the use of burner phones.
Comments are closed.