This was unexpected.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), a presidential candidate, has made direct criticisms of his biggest rival in the 2024 Republican primary, former President Donald Trump. In an unusual move, DeSantis accused Trump of adding trillions to the national debt and supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday night, DeSantis acknowledged the attacks coming from Trump’s camp, particularly regarding his vote against an omnibus spending bill that Trump had signed during his presidency. DeSantis saw Trump’s attacks as an attempt to draw a contrast between them. Expressing his disagreement with Trump’s actions, DeSantis stated that signing the omnibus spending bills had contributed to an increase of nearly 8 trillion dollars in the national debt during Trump’s four-year term.
DeSantis firmly positioned himself on the conservative side of the spending debate, emphasizing the need to address the alarming rise in the national debt. He further criticized Trump for endorsing an amnesty bill, known as Goodlatte II, in 2018. This bill would have granted legal status renewals every three years to those eligible under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The governor highlighted that the bill offered a minimal concession in exchange for a substantial amnesty program, which he staunchly opposed. DeSantis questioned the compatibility of such a bill with an “America first” approach, reiterating his opposition to amnesty.
Although Trump had initially supported Goodlatte II, he later stated that he did not push House Republicans to vote for the bill. Trump attributed this to the difficulty of gathering enough Democratic support due to the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
DeSantis found it peculiar that Trump’s campaign would remind voters of the spending and amnesty bills, considering their contrasting positions. He emphasized his opposition to omnibus spending and amnesty, presenting himself as a candidate who stands firm on these conservative principles.
DeSantis officially announced his candidacy for president in a tweet and subsequently participated in a Twitter Spaces discussion alongside Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter. During the discussion, he engaged with participants and answered their questions.
In the most recent polling data from Morning Consult, DeSantis garners support from 20% of potential Republican primary voters, while Trump maintains a significant lead with 58% support. Trump had announced his bid for the 2024 presidency last year, establishing himself as an early frontrunner in the Republican primary race.