A.G. Gancarski
The dynamic between President Donald Trump and one-time Primary opponent Ron DeSantis seems functional now.
But that wasn’t the case in 2023, when the Florida Governor tested Trump’s appeal in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Recent days have found Trump golfing and breaking bread with the Governor and Casey DeSantis, as the First Couple attempts to get the President to soften his early endorsement of Rep. Byron Donalds for Governor.
But as a new book from AXIOS’ Alex Isenstadt reveals, reminders of a different time are never too far away.
“Revenge: The Inside Story of Trump’s Return to Power” contains two quotes worth excerpting ahead of Tuesday’s release.
The first involves a conversation between Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who endorsed Trump’s re-election in 2023.
“I’m going to squash this guy like a bug,” he told the Ohio Senator.
The second is also from 2023, and is yet another variation in Trump’s story of how DeSantis sought his endorsement during his first run for Governor.
“He was like a beggar. I could have said: ‘Drop to your f—ing knees, Ron,'” Trump told people on his personal plane.
If this material feels familiar, that’s because it largely is.
Trump was very clearly trying to fatally wound DeSantis, his former political protege, for having the temerity to test him and challenge his bid to win the Republican nomination for the third straight time. And the story of DeSantis begging for his endorsement was a mainstay at rallies.
Isenstadt only chronicles two of the greatest hits here, of course.
Trump called DeSantis a “globalist,” a “groomer,” and a “RINO,” while mocking him for wearing “hidden heels.”
It’s hard to forget the oft-repeated “Ron DeSanctimonious” as well.
Ultimately, the only insult that was out of bounds for being “inappropriate” was “Meatball Ron.”
