Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis implicitly hit at the ‘daily drama’ of the Trump White House in a new interview, where he brushed off the former president’s chosen insult for him and cited the ‘underlying conduct’ of the Stormy Daniels ‘hush’ money agreement.
DeSantis spoke at length about what he described as shortcomings of his potential presidential rival, highlighting his strong reelection win and casting himself as preferring policy ‘victories’ over ‘chaos.’
‘I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership, I get personnel in the Government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda,’ he told interviewer Piers Morgan in a sit-down interview at the Florida governor’s mansion.
The pushback came on a day when a Trump ally Steve Bannon lectured DeSantis for a ‘weasel approach’ by bringing up the porn star at the center of a looming potential Trump indictment.
‘You bring your own agenda in you’re gone. We’re just not going to have that. So, the way we run the government I think is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board and I think that’s something that’s very important,’ DeSantis said.
He said he was ‘fine’ with Trump’s nickname of Ron DeSanctimonious for him, with the Ivy League educated former Navy lawyer brushing off the slam by saying he doesn’t know what it means.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was ‘fine’ with Trump’s ‘Ron DeSanctimonious’ nickname for him, and said he didn’t know how to spell it. He also hit back at the ‘daily drama’ of the Trump White House
Donald Trump on Monday night published a video to Truth Social, condemning the ‘witch hunt’ against him
‘Do you think you could beat Biden?’ DeSantis was asked. ‘I think so,’ he responded
‘I don’t know how to spell the sanctimonious one. I don’t really know what it means, but I kinda like it. It’s long, it’s got a lot of vowels. We’ll go with that, that’s fine.’
‘I mean 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 – trying to turn the tables on Trump.
He brushed off the daily blasts, which have been increasing in frequency in recent weeks, although Trump maintains a wide poll lead over DeSantis and other potential rivals.
‘To me, it’s just background noise. It’s not important for me to be fighting with people on social media. It’s not accomplishing anything for the people I represent,’ he said, in a reference to Trump’s Twitter battles before millions of followers.
DeSantis re-upped his statements about not knowing about paying off a porn star, in somewhat different language. Trump has repeatedly denied a sexual affair with Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, and who says they had an affair in 2006
‘So, we really just focus on knocking out victories, day after day, and if I got involved in all the under tow I would not be able to be an affective Governor,’ he said.
He stood by his repeated statements that he doesn’t know about paying off a ‘porn star’ – something he said twice criticizing the investigation of Trump that could lead to an indictment in Manhattan. He did not repeat the phrase in the interview, however, following a furious response from Trump and his allies.
‘Well, there’s a lot of speculation about what the underlying conduct is. That is purported to be it, and the reality is that’s just outside my wheelhouse. I mean that’s just not something that I can speak to,’ he said.
Well, there’s a lot of speculation about what the underlying conduct is. That is purported to be it, and the reality is that’s just outside my wheelhouse. I mean that’s just not something that I can speak to
DeSantis said Monday he didn’t know ‘what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair.’
Trump ally Steve Bannon called it a ‘weasel approach,’ and Trump responded with a statement that questioned DeSantis’ sexuality.
‘Ron DeSanctimonious will probably find out about FALSE ACCUSATIONS & FAKE STORIES sometime in the future, as he gets older, wiser, and better known, when he’s unfairly and illegally attacked by a woman, even classmates that are ‘underage’ (or possibly a man!),’ Trump wrote Monday.
‘I’m sure he will want to fight these misfits just like I do!’ Trump added on his Truth Social platform.
‘The way we run the government I think is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board,’ said DeSantis, who added that ‘It’s not important for me to be fighting with people on social media. Here Trump throws a paper towel roll as he visits the Cavalry Chapel in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico on October 3, 2017, in an event that drew criticism online
‘I get personnel in the Government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda,’ said DeSantis, who has railed against ‘woke’ corporations and clashed with Disney
Trump predicted he could be arrested Tuesday, and is planning a rally in Texas this weekend
DeSantis also said flat out he could beat President Joe Biden, although he again stopped short of saying he would run.
‘Do you think you could beat Biden?’ Morgan asked him.
‘I think so,’ he responded.
‘If I were to run,’ he said, ‘I’m running against Biden. Like we [him and Trump] are competing for the Republican, potentially, I get that, but ultimately you know the guy I’m gonna focus on is Biden because I think he’s failed the country. I think the country wants a change. I think they want a fresh start and a new direction and so we’ll be very vocal about that,’ he said.
