U.S. News
DeSantis to Trump: I spend time ‘delivering results,’ not smearing other Republicans [Video]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Former President Donald Trump recently shared a post that seemed to suggest that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis acted inappropriately around students when he was a teacher.
- The governor said that he’s been facing “defamatory stuff” since he was elected governor, but he now has a platform to fight against defamation.
- In response to Trump, DeSantis said that he spends his time “delivering results” instead of “trying to smear other Republicans.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has been receiving relentless criticism from former President Donald Trump, who sees him as a potential rival for the Republican presidential nomination, prompting the governor to respond by simply sharing his results.
The latest incident involved Trump sharing a social media post that seemed to suggest that DeSantis engaged in inappropriate behavior around students during his time as a private school teacher.
The post shared a photo taken from a 2021 story by Hill Reporter, a blog run by a Democratic super PAC. The blog claimed that DeSantis was seen in a party with a group of teenagers in 2002. In November, the New York Times also claimed that DeSantis, who was a 23-year-old teacher in Georgia at the time, sometimes “hung out at parties with seniors.”
The poster of the image called it “pretty gross.” Trump then shared the post and added, “No way?”
DeSantis dismissed the post when asked about it during a press conference in Ocala, Florida.
DeSantis had just hosted a panel on defamation, where he suggested making it easier to sue media outlets for defamation. When asked how the proposed legislation could address Trump’s attacks, he said he’s in a different situation as an elected official with a platform.
“People just know I face defamatory stuff every single day I’ve been governor, that’s just the nature of it,” the governor said. He said that he has “a platform to fight back,” so the legislation is aimed to help other people that “don’t necessarily have a platform to fight back.”
As a response to Trump, DeSantis concluded, “I spend my time delivering results for the people of Florida and fighting against Joe Biden; that’s how I spend my time. I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans.”
Hypothetical match-up polls had been pitting DeSantis and Trump against each other, with DeSantis in the lead.
DeSantis also won a landslide reelection victory in the November midterms. Trump remarked that he was just an “average” governor who benefited from “great Public Relations.”
The governor previously ignored Trump’s comments but has recently fired back.
When Trump criticized the governor’s handling of the pandemic, DeSantis responded by saying “that the people are able to render a judgment on that, whether they reelect you or not.” He went on to say that his reelection spoke for itself.
DeSantis declared, “I’m happy to say, you know, in my case, not only did we win reelection, we won with the highest percentage of the vote that any Republican governor candidate has in the history of the state of Florida.”
Source: ABC News
CPO Bill
February 10, 2023 at 6:37 pm
A load of adam schiff! If Ron is the nominee, he has my vote!
RUTH
February 10, 2023 at 7:07 pm
I’m not even from Florida and he has my vote. I wish he was governor of California. I did vote for Trump and I think he did a great job as President but I wish he would get over his nastiness, as that just doesn’t show any class. But this time I will vote for DiSantis if he runs.
Henry J Williamson
February 10, 2023 at 11:24 pm
Ruth you hit it right on the head great job Pres.Trump did but his arrogance destroys
His character I’m like you y millions we love his job his strength but he has that bad New. Yorker in him
Kay Zumbach
February 11, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Ruth, you are so right! As Rush would say, “Ditto”!
Danna
February 10, 2023 at 7:15 pm
And JESUS Said: “Let he who hath NO SIN, Cast the first stone! No one did! I’m 83 yrs old, and have yet to see ONE person, who had none-not even myself!
Stuart Coker
February 10, 2023 at 7:43 pm
I love Trump’s policies but hate his style and the way he tears down people he is supposedly aligned with.
Henry J Williamson
February 10, 2023 at 11:26 pm
Best President in my life time I knew he would
Run USA like a business but needs to tone. Down
1PatriotForever
February 10, 2023 at 8:58 pm
I “WAS” an ardent Trump Fan because of his backbone and ability to rally people.
I was a Fan until he did 3 things:
Ran Down DeSantis
Voted for Oz
Backed McCarthy
A liar is a liar and he lied abut Ron, my Governor, he backed Oz a Citizen of Turkey with dual Citizenship and he promoted McCarty a RINO just like Paul Ryan and his stupidity to Claim success on the JAB – Yeah well I loved him, but I am done
Tamituna
February 11, 2023 at 5:34 am
I can relate…but did you REALLY want Fetterman to win?
Mike Tracy
February 10, 2023 at 9:35 pm
What I like about DeSantis is, when someone tries to smear him or badmouth him, he doesn’t respond with stupid words or stupid manuevers. He doesn’t act like a school boy!
He’d make a damn good president! He gets the job done, and that’s why he’s well respected.
Mike Tracy
February 10, 2023 at 9:52 pm
Ya know what else I like about DeSantis?Absolutely everything he has done or is trying to do, I completely agree with, and I cheer him on.
Henry J Williamson
February 10, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Mike great post
Barbara
February 10, 2023 at 10:07 pm
DeSantis has my vote like yesterday! Vote for him in a heartbeat. Just don’t know if he will run. Hope and pray he does.
Levi
February 10, 2023 at 10:58 pm
Trump has looked at all rising candidates and know DeSantis is his competition and is striking first. Trump just pushed DeSantis up the latter, Gave DeSantis a chance to respond, Lesson is if you can say something nice don’t say any thing at all !✌🏼🐇 Thumper.
Henry J Williamson
February 10, 2023 at 11:29 pm
Best President in my life time I knew he would
Run USA like a business but needs to tone. Down
Michael Goodson
February 11, 2023 at 7:01 am
I am still voting for Trump. He knows exactly what he is doing. Ron can be VP or stay in Florida. Dems would love him to leave Florida so they can rig an election to put in a new governor. Trump has been there done that.
Duke Falcon
February 11, 2023 at 8:46 am
Very suspicious actions of Donald. With every democrat wanting him imprisoned as well as a heavy number of Repuks I would think he would focus in that direction. Since I don’t know Ron DeSantis personally and not privy to his past I would not make accusations like a troubled liberal would. Donald needs to back off.
TheFlash
February 11, 2023 at 9:47 am
I’m a DeSantis supporter, but I noticed that he did NOT address the actual allegation. I think an explanation would have been appropriate, otherwise, he’s just acting like a Democrat.
EDNA HOPPE
February 11, 2023 at 11:27 am
you know DeSANTIS WAS losing HIS ELECTION IN FLORIDA BEHIND IN THE POLLS AND HE WENT TO TRUMP AND ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD ENDORSE HIM IN THE ELECTION AND SO TRUMP DID AND LO AND BEHOLD ////ALL HIS RATING WENT UP AND EVERYONE SAID IF TRUMP WANTS HIM THEN SO DO WE AND NOW HE WANTS TO RUN AGAINST HIM // AND DISNEY JUST LAID OFF 10,000 PEOPLE HOW IS DESANTIS GOING TO HANDLE THAT…, THERE IS OTHER STUFF BUT WILL NOT GO INTO THAT //
Franklin Walter Kleinsorgen
February 11, 2023 at 11:10 am
Both men are great at getting things done despite the opposition thrown in their way. Donald Trump was the best President we’ve had in the past 100 years (Ronald Reagan was awesome too). Ron DeSantis is a great Governor and would make a great President if elected. I’m pretty sure Donald Trump is trying to stave off a very strong candidate that would possibly win if they went head to head in the primaries. I’m marginally favoring Ron DeSantis at this time because I’m not fond of Donald Trump’s dirty campaign tactics at the time and question why he supported Oz and McCarthy (maybe to appease the RINO and Dem loud mouths?). I’m sitting back to see what happens. Whichever one wins in the primaries gets my vote in the General election.
EDNA HOPPE
February 11, 2023 at 11:38 am
guess you would rather have nancy Pelosi or KEVIN McCARTHY THAT WAS THE CHOICE I CHOOSE McCarthy// YOU SHOULD READ McCarthy S BIO ON WIKI PEDI YOU MIGHT CHANGE YOUR MIND