Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is making waves across the Republican Party as he continues to defy former President Donald Trump and his allies. The two have been in a feud since the former President gave him the nickname "Ron DeSanctimonious" as a sign of disapproval of his handling of COVID-19 pandemic. DeSantis has dismissed the name-calling as "background noise" and instead focused on his own policy successes.
The tension between Trump and DeSantis has become more pronounced in recent weeks as the Manhattan District Attorney investigates Trump over the stormy Daniels hush-money case. Trump’s allies have used the potential charges as a loyalty test, while Rep. Chip Roy commented on conservative commentator Glenn Beck's radio show that Trump "clearly paid off a porn star to hush up right before an election". House Republicans face pressure now to choose sides in the conflict.
DeSantis has taken shots at Trump in the past, believing his policies are great, but his messenger is flawed. The governor has also implicitly criticized Trump's chaotic and ego-driven management style and has compared his own handling of covid with Trump. He has dismissed Trump’s chosen nickname of “DeSanctimonious” for him and argued that it’s time to consider a new generation of leaders.
The question of whether — and how hard — to go after Trump is particularly stark among Republican hopefuls 2024. According to Republican operatives, donors and strategists, the most effective anti-Trump messages are appeals to Trump fatigue and the idea that he may no longer be the most electable candidate; subtle nods to his age and the idea that it’s time to consider a new generation of leaders; and attacks on his record, arguing that he failed to keep many of the promises he made.
Some of the party's top benefactors have already indicated plans to go up on air this spring with a big ad buy in early states attacking Trump, and a network of activist groups and donors led by billionaire Charles Koch also said that they plan to oppose Trump for his party nomination.
As the Republican party continues to grapple with its identity in the post-Trump era, DeSantis stands at the forefront of the movement, determined to rally the support of his party while challenging Trump's divisive rhetoric. The Florida governor will likely remain a key figure in the coming months as he decides whether to pursue a presidential bid for 2024.