So much for Trump being a "counter-puncher" who only criticizes those who attack him. He revealed a lot more about himself with this comment than he did about DeSantis. It is precisely what so many of us find disarming about him.
Please put your virtue signaling aside for a moment and try to understand what is going on ---- all rooted in the on-going battle within the party to stop Trump's second term.
Ron DeSantis is not MAGA. He turned to Trump in 2018, a very popular President in Florida, to save him from losing the governorship to a drug addict. Trump obliged and DeSantis squeaked out a razor thin victory to go on and be very good for Florida; his opponent entered rehab.
But, make no mistake about it, RDS's political roots are in the DC swamp. He spent his entire tenure in the House under the wings of Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy ----- I'd guess Ron fancies himself another (aging) 'Young Gun" rather than an American Firster. RDS ended his run for the Senate in 2016 at the request of Mitch McConnell -- even though he had solid poll numbers and campaign cash --- and ran instead for his House seat, which he won with Ryan's help. These are RDS's political buddies.
The Ryan/DeSantis team has been poking, podding, goading Trump and his team for months and other than the occassional flick of his third finger, Trump has been very restrained----surprising many. But then RDS's intentions came out of the shadows and he publicly declared which team he's on with the robo call in support of the GOP Senate candidate promising to work against Trump in 2024 --- This is the first punch
@massadvj The Ryan/DeSantis team wanted more push back from Trump --- or made a strategic blunder. Either way this is self-inflicted by DeSantis and he deserves no sympathy for Trump's (very reserved) reaction --- nor does Trump deserve a scolding or a lecture ---- making your reaching for the "we were right about Trump" scepter a bit premature.
Rich Baris had more to say about this. I posted it below.
@catfish1957 @mystery-ak