Ron DeSantis' Response to Trump's Nickname and 2024 Campaign Rumors

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has become a favorite of national conservatives for his embrace of staunchly conservative social policies, and is now seen as Donald Trump's top potential rival in the 2024 primary, despite not yet announcing a campaign.[0] As polls place DeSantis as Trump's biggest challenger for the Republican nomination, Trump has grown increasingly critical of DeSantis and his record.[0] In an interview with Piers Morgan, DeSantis took some preliminary shots at Trump and offered a first look at how he’ll respond to one of the more ridiculous indignities of running against him: the goofy yet effective nicknames.[1] DeSantis dismissed Trump's nickname for him — “Ron DeSanctimonious” — as nonsense.[2] “You can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner, because that’s what we’ve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this state to the next level,” he said.[3] DeSantis also addressed Trump's chaotic leadership, his addiction to social media, and his "daily drama" which the governor said is not the way he runs the government. “Focus on the big picture and put points on the board, and I think that’s something that’s very important,” he said.[4] The precise timing of DeSantis' announcement of his candidacy remains uncertain.[5] It is reported that he desired to finish the current state legislative session, which concludes in early May, before going nationwide in order to gain additional of those anti-liberal "points" he likes to boast about.[5] DeSantis told Morgan that he had not yet come to a "final decision" on whether he will pursue a candidacy in 2024, even though he has recently toured important early-voting states such as Iowa and Nevada.[6] He dismissed the “background noise” as Trump steps up his attacks against his Republican rival.[7] Taking an implicit jab at Trump’s, DeSantis said he'll focus on running against President Biden, and not Trump.[7] Whether DeSantis decides to run or not, his popularity among some Republican voters has fractured relations with Trump in recent months.[0] 0. "Steve Bannon Declares Ron DeSantis 'Controlled Opposition'" Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2023, https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-declares-ron-desantis-controlled-opposition-1790312 1. "DeSantis Pretends He Can't Spell Trump Nickname 'DeSanctimonious'" New York Magazine, 22 Mar. 2023, https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/03/desantis-pretends-he-cant-spell-trump-jab-desanctimonious.html 2. "DeSantis doubles down on Trump criticism in Piers Morgan interview" Axios, 22 Mar. 2023, https://www.axios.com/2023/03/22/desantis-piers-morgan-interview-trump 3. "Ron DeSantis Has Stopped Giving Trump the Silent Treatment" Vanity Fair, 22 Mar. 2023, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/03/ron-desantis-attacks-donald-trump 4. "Trump allies accuse DeSantis of ‘lashing out’ because of falling poll numbers" The Hill, 22 Mar. 2023, https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3912302-trump-allies-accuse-desantis-of-lashing-out-because-of-falling-poll-numbers/ 5. "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 6. "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 7. "Ron DeSantis drops election hint with swipe at Trump's 'daily drama'" The Times, 22 Mar. 2023, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/desantis-drops-election-hint-with-swipe-at-trump-s-daily-drama-w3tjtbb8z

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