Ron DeSantis prepares for 2024 White House bid as Trump hits campaign trail - The Guardian US

1 year ago 39

America’s 2024 statesmanlike contention is showing signs of kicking into cogwheel amid reports that Florida’s rightwing Republican politician Ron DeSantis is present laying the groundwork for a White House bid arsenic Donald Trump yet deed the run trail.

DeSantis’s moves adjacent spurred Trump into attacking him straight arsenic the erstwhile US president held comparatively debased cardinal events implicit the play successful the cardinal aboriginal voting states of New Hampshire and South Carolina.

“Ron would person not been politician if it wasn’t for me… erstwhile I perceive helium mightiness run, I see that precise disloyal,” Trump said, earlier seeking to slam DeSantis’s actions implicit warring the Covid-19 pandemic.

DeSantis began his clip arsenic Florida’s politician successful the shadiness of Trump, whose governmental messaging helium intimately emulated. But helium has since emerged arsenic Trump’s astir almighty governmental rival successful the Republican party, progressively fashionable with galore enactment officials who are wary of the scandals and chaos that accompanied Trump’s clip successful office.

The Washington Post has reported that DeSantis’s governmental squad has already identified imaginable run hires successful states similar Iowa and New Hampshire, whose accepted aboriginal spots successful the information contention springiness them outsize power connected the race.

Citing 2 Republican sources with cognition of conversations and unit gathering connected DeSantis team, the insubstantial said the Florida politician was successful adjacent talks with 2 existent and experienced members of his existent squad – Phil Cox and Generra Peck – astir imaginable elder roles successful immoderate 2024 effort.

Bill Bowen, a New Hampshire Republican delegate, told the paper that his authorities would apt beryllium receptive to DeSantis. “I’m convinced there’s a bully web of constitution enactment radical successful New Hampshire that volition rapidly person a precise effectual DeSantis campaign,” Bowen said.

DeSantis has carved retired turf successful the Republican enactment that invites struggle with Trump. He has tacked to the extremist right, particularly connected societal issues. His authorities has restricted LGBTQ+ rights and abortion, sought to demonize further acquisition successful the authorities arsenic a bastion of wide powerfulness and helium has enflamed tensions implicit migration with a bid of governmental stunts.

In effect to DeSantis’s apt statesmanlike bid, Trump has issued threats against the governor. Last November, Trump appeared to pass DeSantis by hinting astatine governmental blackmail against DeSantis’s imaginable 2024 run.

Donald Trump delivers remarks astatine  the South Carolina authorities   location   connected  Saturday successful  Columbia, South Carolina.
Donald Trump delivers remarks astatine the South Carolina authorities location connected Saturday successful Columbia, South Carolina. Photograph: Win McNamee/Getty Images

“I deliberation if helium runs, helium could wounded himself precise badly. I truly judge helium could wounded himself badly… I would archer you things astir him that won’t beryllium precise flattering – I cognize much astir him than anybody – different than, perhaps, his wife,” Trump told Fox News.

It was erstwhile wide expected that Trump – the lone truthful acold declared large campaigner for the Republican information – would beryllium mostly unopposed. But a bid of scandals, including gathering with achromatic nationalists, and the flop of high-profile Trump-backed candidates successful November’s midterm elections, has seen his grip connected the enactment loosen considerably.

Now a swath of different Republicans look poised to participate the race.

Trump adjacent appeared to springiness his blessing to his erstwhile US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, aft she informed him that she is considering a 2024 statesmanlike bid.

“I talked to her for a small while, I said, ‘Look, you know, spell by your bosom if you privation to run’… She’s publically said that ‘I would ne'er tally against my president, helium was a large president,’” Trump told reporters connected Saturday, CNN reports.

He added that helium told Haley that she “should bash it”.

In a Fox News interview earlier this month, erstwhile asked astir her erstwhile comments astir not moving for president if Trump ran, Haley responded that the “survival of America matters”.

“It’s bigger than 1 person. And erstwhile you’re looking astatine the aboriginal of America, I deliberation it’s clip for caller generational change. I don’t deliberation you request to beryllium 80 years aged to spell beryllium a person successful DC… I deliberation we request a young procreation to travel in, measurement up, and truly commencement fixing things,” she said.

Other erstwhile Trump furniture members person besides hinted astatine their statesmanlike bids. Earlier this week, CBS asked erstwhile nationalist information advisor John Bolton if helium is considering a 2024 run. Bolton said that characterization is “exactly right”, the outlet reports.

Bolton besides criticized Trump’s 2024 statesmanlike bid, calling it “poison” to the Republican party.

“I deliberation Republicans, particularly aft the November 8 elections past year, spot that he’s poison to the ticket. He cannot beryllium elected president. If helium were the Republican nominee, helium would doom our chances to get a bulk successful the Senate and the House. I don’t deliberation he’s going to beryllium the Republican nominee,” helium said.

On Tuesday, erstwhile caput of authorities Mike Pompeo said that helium volition determine whether helium volition tally for president. Speaking to CBS, Pompeo said: “Susan and I are thinking, praying, trying to fig retired if this is the adjacent spot to spell serve,” referring to his wife.

“We haven’t gotten to that conclusion. We’ll fig this retired successful the adjacent fistful of months,” helium added.

When asked whether Trump’s 2024 statesmanlike bid is having an interaction connected his ain decision-making, Pompeo said: “None.”

There are besides apt to beryllium a big of different Republicans yet successful the contention with radical similar Georgia politician Brian Kemp and Virginia politician Glenn Youngkin among names often touted arsenic apt runners.

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