DeSantis unleashes on Trump ahead of debate: 'Get out of the dungeon and get off the keyboard'
On the eve of the next Republican presidential debate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis forcefully challenged former President Donald Trump to debate him in person.
While speaking to a crowd of supporters, the two-term Florida governor – who debated California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom last week — insinuated that his chief rival in the 2024 Republican presidential primary was too scared to show up to debate in-person. In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter) by a DeSantis supporter, the Florida governor called the 45th president of the United States a "keyboard warrior" who lobs attacks at his opponents from behind the safety of a screen.
"He's doing it behind his keyboard and on his social media site, which a lot of people aren't seeing, and the media's not really amplifying it," DeSantis said. "Get out of your dungeon and get off the keyboard, stand up on the debate stage, and let's go."
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"Why Donald Trump refuses to debate is beyond me, you know, you're doing so well, you should want to get up there and make your case. And I think voters deserve to hear from candidates as to why they should be the nominee, especially a candidate who's had two opportunities already," DeSantis said.
"I don't think he will do it because I don't think he can stand there for two hours against me and come out on top," he added.
The tone marks a significant change from DeSantis' former attitude toward Trump, who endorsed DeSantis' initial 2018 gubernatorial campaign when he was still in the White House. Trump has labeled the Florida governor as "Ron DeSanctimonious," posted news about DeSantis' super PAC woes on his Truth Social account and even suggested over the weekend that his 2024 primary opponent was somehow to blame for Florida State University's football team failing to make the College Football Playoff.
Trump has also mocked the Florida governor over the so-called "bootgate" scandal, in which several designers of shoes and boots told Politico they believed DeSantis was wearing inserts in his boots to artificially inflate his height. In an October post to his website, Trump said DeSantis' boots were "more appropriate for America’s Next Top Model than the campaign trail."
READ MORE: Shoe designer says 'no doubt' Ron DeSantis is wearing height boosters in his boots
The next Republican debate will be held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Wednesday, December 6. Trump is not expected to attend.
