Trump Mocks DeSantis' Personality, Suggesting Emergency Transplant Amid Growing Tension
The ongoing dispute between former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis intensified recently as Trump took aim at DeSantis' personality. On April 23, Trump, 76, alleged that some donors and PACs who previously backed DeSantis were withdrawing their support due to his plummeting poll numbers.
"Florida has the Sun & the Ocean, and was GREAT long before I put Ron there," Trump posted on his social media account. "The semi-elite 'No Growthers' are considering sending Ron to the great Walter Reed Medical Center for an emergency personality transplant. His poll numbers are crashing!"
In response, DeSantis, 44, criticized Trump's reliance on Dr. Anthony Fauci during the COVID-19 pandemic at a Republican gathering.
"A leader must have the confidence to stand all alone if need be," DeSantis stated at the Utah GOP Convention on April 22. "Leaders take the bull by the horns and make the decisions for themselves. They don't subcontract out their leadership to health bureaucrats like Dr. Fauci."
Although DeSantis has not yet officially declared his candidacy for president, the rivalry between him and the former reality star has been escalating for months. On April 20, during an appearance on the "Full Send" podcast, Trump accused DeSantis of being disloyal.
"You have a guy from Florida, Ron DeSantis, who I got in with my endorsement. He was at three points. He was nothing, he was not going to win. He was going to lose and I endorsed him," Trump recounted.
"He was dead politically. I endorsed him and saved him ... When I endorsed him he went like a rocket ship," Trump added. "I should call him rocket man, but now he's rocket man that's crashing."
As the feud continues to escalate, it remains to be seen how the animosity between the two influential Republicans will affect their respective political ambitions and the broader party dynamics.