Donald Trump warns Ron DeSantis against 2024 presidential bid - BBC

Donald Trump has warned Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis against moving for president successful 2024, saying doing truthful would harm the Republican Party.

"I deliberation helium would beryllium making a mistake. I deliberation the basal would not similar it," the erstwhile president told Fox News.

He besides threatened to merchandise unflattering accusation astir the 44-year-old, without providing details.

Both men person been tipped to denote statesmanlike runs and go apt rivals for the Republican nomination.

Mr Trump's comments came conscionable hours earlier Tuesday's midterm elections that volition determine power of Congress.

He branded the rising Republican prima "Ron DeSanctimonious" astatine a rally implicit the weekend.

"I don't cognize if helium is running. I deliberation if helium runs, helium could wounded himself precise badly. I truly judge helium could wounded himself badly," Mr Trump told Fox. "I don't deliberation it would beryllium bully for the party."

If Mr DeSantis were to denote a statesmanlike bid, Mr Trump said helium would uncover "things astir him that won't beryllium precise flattering - I cognize much astir him than anybody - different than, perhaps, his wife".

He did not supply details - but Mr Trump has antecedently made threats to merchandise damaging accusation astir rivals.

He aboriginal described his imaginable hostile arsenic "a good guy" and denied determination was a quality betwixt them. "There's not a tiff with me, and I'm mode up successful the polls," helium said.

Mr DeSantis is simply a comparative newcomer to authorities but roseate to nationalist prominence aft becoming Florida politician successful 2019. He has positioned himself arsenic an enthusiastic champion of conservativism, and is considered by galore to beryllium the astir apt campaigner to supplant Mr Trump.

He is projected to decision Democrat Charlie Crist and triumph re-election arsenic Florida politician connected Tuesday, according to the BBC's US spouse CBS News, a effect that could service arsenic a level for announcing a 2024 statesmanlike bid.

Mr Trump - a nonmigratory of the authorities - told reporters gathered extracurricular a polling presumption earlier connected Tuesday that helium had voted for Mr DeSantis.

Mr DeSantis has been tight-lipped astir a imaginable statesmanlike tally but speculation has been rife. Mr Trump, meanwhile, said connected Monday that helium would marque a "very large announcement connected 15 November.