'Cold War' getting 'hotter and hotter' as Trump and DeSantis conflict comes to light

26 December 2022

Conflicting views between former president Donald Trump and potential 2024 presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis are coming to light as the pair approach potential rivalry, the Hill reports.

The two GOP figures have been allies since Trump supported DeSantis’ gubernatorial run in 2018, for which Trump believes the governor now owes him. And as they move towards a likely political competition, their differing views around vaccines, COVID-19 policies and other legislative issues are becoming clearer.

GOP strategist and a former Trump campaign advisor, Sam Nunberg said “We’ll continue to see this cold war get hotter and hotter, and the only thing to watch is when DeSantis starts to openly criticize or respond to Trump. He doesn’t have to while he’s governor, but eventually he will as a candidate.”

The way Trump approached and navigated the pandemic while he was in office resulted in much criticism from his own party, as the COVID-19 vaccines were developed under his presidency.

Just last week, DeSantis also received criticism from health professionals and some fellow GOP members for organizing a Florida-based committee to counter the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health organizations.

However, when it comes to legislative issues their constituents and supporters care about, DeSantis appears to have the upper hand.

As Trump continues to harp on the outcome of the 2020 election — recently suggesting that the Constitution be terminated to make way for an election redo — DeSantis is making moves that garner party support, such as organizing a recent bus trip for migrants from Florida to Martha’s Vineyard, aggressively opposing mask mandates in schools, backing the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and approving gerrymandering measures that increase GOP chances of winning elections.

A GOP strategist who is also a Florida resident told The Hill, “I think the overall narrative and differentiation will be that DeSantis gets things done, and he’s not a cult of personality,” said one Florida-based Republican strategist.

The strategist continued, “Trump will want to say that everything up until the pandemic was a major success and you should judge him on that.”

Texas GOP congressman Chip Roy tweeted, “It’s not complicated, @RonDeSantisFL is leading the polls for a reason. Principled, conservative, leadership on issues Floridians (and all Americans) care about.”

DeSantis plans to entice his base with more policy wins before he officially announces his 2024 presidential run next year.

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