DeSantis responds to Trump criticism, says ‘verdict was rendered’ by Florida voters

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded Tuesday to an ongoing series of criticisms leveled at him by former President Trump.

On Saturday, Trump delivered the final blow to DeSantis, saying the governor, whom he previously referred to as “Ron DeSantimonius,” was wrong about Florida’s COVID-19 pandemic policy.

“There are Republican governors who have not closed their states. Florida has been closed for an extended period of time.” Trump told reporters. “They’re trying to rewrite history.”

TRUMP, DEZANTI, PENCE AND OTHERS – THE BATTLE FOR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS FOR EVANGELICAL VOTERS

Former President Trump.
(SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump went even further during his Saturday events in New Hampshire and South Carolina, saying that DeSantis owes his success to the Trump administration and that a hypothetical presidential candidacy would be offensive.

Trump said, “Ron wouldn’t be governor if it wasn’t for me. So when I hear that he can run, I find it very disloyal.”

Speaking at a press conference, DeSantis was asked about Trump’s comments.

“Trump has criticized you several times over the past couple of days on a number of different issues, one of which is COVID in the state,” Daily Caller reporter Henry Rogers said.

TRUMP APPEARS TO TARGET POTENTIAL 2024 GOP Rivals

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) and former President Trump

DeSantis cited his recent landslide victory among Florida voters.

“Well, listen, I would like to say this. I’m rolling out of bed, people are attacking me from all sides,” the Florida governor said. “This has been happening for many, many years. And if you look at what’s good about that, if you take a crisis situation like COVID, you know what’s good about that, when you’re an elected leader, you have to make all sorts of decisions. You must control this ship.”

DeSantis continued, “And the good thing is that people can judge it whether they re-elect you or not. And I’m happy to say, you know, in my case, we not only won re-election, we won with the highest percentage of the vote any Republican gubernatorial candidate has in Florida history.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks after being sworn in for a second term during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol on January 3, 2023 in Tallahassee, Florida.
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, file)

Until recently, Trump was the clear and overwhelming leader in early 2024 Republican presidential nomination polls. However, in several nationwide polls released last month, Trump trails DeSantis, whose reputation among conservatives across the country has skyrocketed over the past three years.

DeSantis was overwhelmingly re-elected in November to a second term, leading Florida, a former battleground that has been growing redder over the past two cycles.

“We won by the largest initial margin of votes, more than 1.5 million votes, than any gubernatorial candidate has ever had in Florida’s history,” DeSantis advertised Tuesday. “And in fact, we almost doubled the previous record, which I think was about 780,000 votes. And so I just want to say that the verdict was handed down by the people of the state of Florida.”