Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis rejected former President Donald Trump’s claim that he was “disloyal” for entering the 2024 presidential race, saying that politicians are not “entitled” to support from voters.
The Florida governor made the remarks late last week during an interview with Megyn Kelly when asked about Trump’s claim that DeSantis “came over and begged him for an endorsement with tears coming down from your eyes” during the 2018 Florida gubernatorial race.
DeSantis laughed off the claim, saying that he met Trump out in the open on Air Force One and asked for his support and Trump agreed.
“But here’s the thing, politicians have to earn support,” DeSantis said. “Nobody’s entitled to support. You know, I am loyal to my family. I am loyal to our Constitution. I am loyal to God. That is where my loyalty goes, I will work with politicians to try to advance what I believe is in the best interests of Florida and the country. But at the end of the day, it’s about who can get the job done. And that’s how I view it.”
“And it is interesting. He doesn’t say that about his own vice president running against him, he doesn’t say that about his ambassador to the U.N. running against him,” he continued. “He does not say that about other people he endorsed in the past, who are now running against him. He only says that about me, because I think he construes me as the only threat to his winning the nomination.”
When asked about Trump supporters who claim that it’s not DeSantis’ “turn” and that Trump “deserves” another shot because he was “screwed” over during first term and during the election, DeSantis said that’s not how America works.
“We’re a republic, we are not a monarchy, it’s nobody’s turn,” DeSantis said. “You have every right to put yourself forward. You know, I believe at this point in history, 2024’s make or break for this country. I am not running to be President, I am running to do something as president for the country.”
“I think I am the guy that can win the primary, win the general election, and then deliver on all of these things and do it for two terms, which I think is really important, because if you look at Trump’s first term, he did a lot of good things, Biden reversed almost everything on day one, I think we do need two terms for this stuff to really, really stick. And so I think that I am the only guy that fits that bill,” he continued. “So I have responsibility to step up and offer myself for service.”
WATCH:
Governor Ron DeSantis reject’s Trump’s claim that he is “disloyal” for running: “Politicians have to earn support. Nobody's entitled to support. You know, I am loyal to my family. I am loyal to our Constitution. I am loyal to God. That is where my loyalty goes, I will work with… pic.twitter.com/0iwaKP3NZE
— Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) July 31, 2023