Trump feeling threatened by Florida's Governor?
On March 15, it came to light that the one-term former president Donald Trump had filed a state-level ethics complaint against Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis. The filing was made by Trump's Super Political Action Committee - Make America Great Again Inc - and alleges that DeSantis is running a "shadow presidential campaign".
It also accuses DeSantis of acting unethically in receiving political donations from campaign supporters and via sales of his new book "The Courage to Be Free", which DeSantis has been promoting heavily during his travels around the wider United States. Could it be that Trump feels threatened by DeSantis and is concerned that he's gaining political ground in a potential presidential campaign?
Is Trump more concerned and his ego damaged by the fact that DeSantis sold more copies of his book in its first week than Trump (or Obama or Hillary Clinton)?
Could it be that Trump is getting increasingly annoyed that DeSantis won't confirm or deny his presidential intents, unlike Nikki Haley who has already declared herself to be in the running.
DeSantis majoring on national issues
There's a clear sense in the DeSantis camp that the focus of political appearances should be upon matters of national importance, not just those affecting Florida. Even in the case of his current drive to allow permit-less concealed carry of firearms under a new Constitutional Carry law, Governor DeSantis continues to position this as a measure that will bring Florida onto a par with 25+ other Republican states that already allow the same.
For a long while now, DeSantis has been dismissive of Trump's repeated character attacks and name-calling. The repeated references to him as "Ron DeSanctimonious" and "Ron DeSanctus" just seem to make Trump seem childish, and DeSantis hasn't resorted to similar tactics which give him the moral high-ground.
When recently asked by the media about the slurs Trump had so publicly levelled at his character, DeSantis responded:
I get it, I get you guys want the controversy.
He went on to reiterate his intention to rise above the mud-slinging. Having emphasized his concern for delivering results for the people of Florida, DeSantis was keen to set himself apart from Trump's tactics, stating:
I don't spend my time trying to smear other Republicans.
DeSantis continues, undeterred
While there were further cracks appearing in Trump's confidence - a report from earlier this week suggested that he would be campaigning on education policy in an attempt to copy DeSantis - it would seem that the Florida Governor seems determined to carry on with what he's doing, regardless of what Trump does or says.
Besides campaigning to get constitutional carry laws through the Florida legislative system, DeSantis remains resolute about addressing the education system in the Sunshine State, defending recent rulings to remove unsuitable books from the shelves of school libraries. He's also weighed-in with his opinion on the Southern Border crisis, playing his part in feeding the Republican rhetoric around the topic.
It seems then that DeSantis is intent on carrying on regardless of what Trump chooses to do or say.
Do you think that Donald Trump is making himself appear childish and jealous in his repeated attacks on Ron DeSantis? Is this all part of a political game? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
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