DeSantis and Trump engage in COVID lockdown dispute
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have been exchanging jabs over their commitment to COVID-19 lockdowns this week. While both Republicans initially supported lockdowns in April 2020, Trump has accused DeSantis of performing poorly during the outbreak. In response, DeSantis has highlighted an archival video of Trump from 2020 in which he defends against opening up too early. During a press event, DeSantis called out Trump for claiming that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo did better on COVID than Florida did.
Later, in South Carolina, DeSantis diverged from the back and forth to discuss policy at a town hall, where he declined the idea of decriminalizing marijuana. His stance on this issue is evidence that he is running a hard-right GOP primary campaign, which has kept him at No. 2 in the polls.
Meanwhile, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has been critical of DeSantis, saying that his time as governor may be coming to an end. However, DeSantis received support from former Texas Congressman Will Hurd, who launched his campaign and hit the frontrunner right out of the gate, stating that Trump needs to be beaten in a Republican primary.
As more Republicans enter the crowded GOP field, pundits believe that this will further split the vote, potentially benefiting Trump. For instance, the New York Times reports that U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Florida, could enter the race, whereby he would become the fourth Florida man to run for president this cycle. However, Scott’s office dismissed the idea, stating that he is running for re-election to the Senate.
In conclusion, with the 2024 election approaching, tension is high among Republican candidates. While DeSantis has been targeted by Trump for his lockdowns, he has managed to find support among other Republicans. Trump’s presence in the race may split the vote, which could potentially benefit him, as more candidates enter the field to run against him. As the race heats up, Republicans are increasingly positioning themselves in opposition to Trump to seize the nomination.
