DeSantis vs. Trump: The 2024 Presidential Race Heats Up

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is gearing up for a potential 2024 presidential run, and it seems he's ready to take on his former mentor, Former President Donald Trump. In an interview with television host Piers Morgan on Fox Nation's Piers Morgan Uncensored, which airs in full on Thursday, DeSantis will begin lobbing direct criticisms at the 45th president, who has been going after DeSantis for months.[0] DeSantis has been gradually preparing for a 2024 presidential run, and has hinted he would make a decision on his candidacy after the state’s legislative session finishes in May. In the Morgan interview, DeSantis brushed off Trump’s recent barrages of attacks, dismissing the nickname that Trump has used to mock him — “Ron DeSanctimonious” — as nonsense.[1] DeSantis also responded to Trump’s post on Truth Social, in which Trump wrote that DeSantis “will probably find out about FALSE ACCUSATIONS & FAKE STORIES sometime in the future, as he gets older, wiser, and better known.”[2] DeSantis referred to Trump's jabs as "background noise" to him.[3] I deem it unnecessary to engage in quarrels on social media, for such behavior does not benefit the people I represent.[4] DeSantis then discussed the importance of bringing the right kind of character to public office, saying, “At the end of the day, as a leader, you really want to look to people like our Founding Fathers, like what type of character. It’s not saying that you don’t ever make a mistake in your personal life, but I think what type of character are you bringing? … I think the person is more about how you handle your public duties and the kind of character you bring to that endeavor.”[5] DeSantis also pointed to Florida’s success before he took office, saying, “Florida has been successful for many years, long before I put Ron there — It’s amazing what Ocean and Sunshine will do!”[6] Though DeSantis has yet to officially announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race, it's clear that the fight for the Republican nomination between him and Trump is about to go live.[0] 0. "DeSantis Goes After Trump's Base with Piers Morgan Interview" New York Magazine, 22 Mar. 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/03/desantis-trump-piers-morgan-interview.html 1. "Ron DeSantis admits he can’t spell ‘sanctimonious’ insult Trump gave him" The Independent, 23 Mar. 2023, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ron-desantis-sanctimonious-trump-insult-b2305862.html 2. "Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence react to Trump's claim that he'll be arrested" CBS News, 20 Mar. 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ron-desantis-mike-pence-react-to-trumps-claim-hell-be-arrested/ 3. "DeSantis Strikes Back: Florida Gov. Criticizes Trump For Working With Fauci In New Interview, Piers Morgan Says" Forbes, 21 Mar. 2023, https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2023/03/21/desantis-strikes-back-florida-gov-attacked-trump-in-interview-for-working-with-fauci-piers-morgan-says 4. "DeSantis on Trump’s nickname for him: I kind of like it, ‘it’s got a lot of vowels’" The Hill, 22 Mar. 2023, https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/3912048-desantis-on-trumps-nickname-for-him-i-kind-of-like-it-its-got-a-lot-of-vowels/ 5. "DeSantis downplays Trump's nickname, 'just as long as you also call me a winner'" ABC News, 22 Mar. 2023, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/desantis-downplays-trumps-nickname-piers-morgan-interview/story?id=98049926 6. "Trump’s kitchen-sink attack on DeSantis, parsed" The Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/23/trump-desantis-republicans-florida/

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