DeSantis Has Strongs Words For Trump Over Nomination
Former President Donald Trump is being targeted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Republican begins his quest for the White House in 2024. DeSantis took aim at Trump for opting to miss a major forum in Iowa Friday and potentially playing hooky from next month’s first official debate.
Speaking on conservative Boston radio host Howie Carr's show Wednesday, DeSantis said "Nobody is entitled to this nomination. You have got to earn the nomination and doing things like the Family Leader event in Iowa, doing things like these debates, they’re important parts of the process."
This is not the first time Trump has been criticized for his handling of the upcoming 2024 election, and it certainly won't be the last. Back in April, the former president faced a huge wave of backlash after he suggested skipping the debates. At the time, Trump's communication director Jason Miller said the former president "really enjoys the debates and connects with voters directly.”
Though Trump is the leader of the Republican Party and a significant force in the upcoming election, DeSantis believes it is important to make clear that "Nobody is entitled to this nomination… We had the Biden-Trump [showdown] in 2020 and Biden’s president. The idea that he’s just entitled after that doesn’t make any sense.”
The former president's absence from both the Iowa forum and the upcoming debates will be keenly felt by conservatives. It may also present a unique opportunity for rival candidates to gain ground in a tight race.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are closely watching the developments. Some are arguing that Trump's absence is a signal that he is underprepared for the race and is resigning himself to a potential defeat. Others, however, are speaking of a potential Trump comeback should he commit to the debates and compete on the same stage as his opponents.
Regardless, Republican voters will have to decide for themselves whether Trump's absence is beneficial or detrimental to the upcoming election. Gov. DeSantis, for his part, has made it clear that it will take hard work to claim victory in 2024, and that the Republicans will come out on top only if they put the effort in.