Late last week, as ex-president Donald Trump geared up for the first leg of his comeback “revenge tour” of MAGA rallies, one of his close insiders sent a pretty dire warning out to members of the Republican party who may be thinking of challenging the former guy when it comes to being the face of the GOP — don’t do it, or there will be “hell to pay.”
According to this source, Donald Trump is on a warpath of sorts when it comes to his road back to power and he’s looking to make it clear to those within the party that he’s taking no prisoners when it comes to anyone who’s even thinking of getting in his way.
And now, according to a new report from POLITICO, one Republican party “sweetheart” is trying to navigate Trump’s warnings while still clinging tight to his own burgeoning popularity.
We’ve reported several times now that, in the wake of the Trump White House, it seems to GOP is setting its sights on Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis as their new favorite. Now, DeSantis is being left to figure out how to navigate his own success while on a clear “collision course” with the former guy whose power just won’t go away, after he beat Trump out in a recent straw poll and is getting ever closer to overshadowing Donald in the 2024 presidential race.
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“It makes it difficult to openly start campaigning as [Trump] at least contemplates running again,” former chair of the Republican Party of Michigan, Saul Anuzis said, before adding that it’s still “early” in the election cycle. “It keeps activists on the sidelines.”
DeSantis, so far, has the luxury of blaming his heavy campaigning and growing popularity on simply running for reelection. But we don’t figure Trump will be accepting of that excuse forever.
Those close to the heinous Republican governor say that DeSantis is definitely aware of the dangers that come with appearing to rise too quickly under Donald Trump’s shadow on the GOP. One Republican consultant spoke to POLITICO about Trump and DeSantis on the condition of anonymity and said the governor is “very wary” of earning the ex-president’s ire.
“He will take measures so that Trump won’t get mad at him, but believe me, the more successful you are, with Trump, sometimes makes it worse,” the consultant revealed. “It’s a weird spot to be in for sure.”
Trump is set to hold his second post-presidency rally in Sarasota, Fla., on July 3rd and POLITICO reports that DeSantis’ office has yet to respond as to whether the governor will be in attendance.
The ex-president, meanwhile, seems to possibly be attempting to combat DeSantis’ rise to fame by weighing the GOP governor as a possible 2024 running mate. However, the POLITICO report notes that several insiders with the FL governor say Ron isn’t interested in anything outside of a smashingly successful reelection.
You can read the full report here.
Featured image via Flickr/The White House
