Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis took aim at former President Donald Trump while campaigning in Iowa this week as the battle between the race’s top two contenders heats up.
DeSantis was asked by a reporter if he was going to start becoming “a bit more aggressive with campaigning against him” after largely avoiding direct confrontation with the former president before he declared his candidacy.
“So look, I’m gonna respond to attacks,” the Florida governor said. “I mean, if you say Cuomo did a better job with COVID than Florida did, first of all, that’s not what he used to say. This is like new, like six months ago, he would have never said that, right? He used to say how great Florida was.”
“Hell, his whole family moved to Florida under my governorship! Are you kidding me?” DeSantis continued. “So, so some of this stuff, I think, is — look, if someone is saying that, I am going to counterpunch. I’m going to fight back on it. I’m going to focus my fire on Biden, and I think he should do the same. He gives Biden a free pass. I’m focusing on Biden, that’s my focus.”
WATCH:
DESANTIS on Trump attacking Florida:
“His whole family moved to Florida under my governorship! Are you kidding me?!” pic.twitter.com/PzXnpYmRsU
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) May 31, 2023
DeSantis later added at the press conference that Trump’s criticisms of how Florida managed the COVID pandemic were “ridiculous, but it is an indication that the former president would double down on his lockdowns from March of 2020.”
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WATCH:
DeSantis responds to Trump saying Cuomo did better with COVID:
“Yes, the criticism is ridiculous. But it is an indication the former president would double down on his lockdowns from March of 2020.” pic.twitter.com/3BNGq7cKwu
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) May 31, 2023
Trump announced in October 2019 that he was moving out of the state of New York to his resort at Mar-a-Lago because of the lower taxes in Florida.
“1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House, is the place I have come to love and will stay for, hopefully, another 5 years as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, but my family and I will be making Palm Beach, Florida, our Permanent Residence,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “I cherish New York, and the people of New York, and always will, but unfortunately, despite the fact that I pay millions of dollars in city, state and local taxes each year, I have been treated very badly by the political leaders of both the city and state.”
“Few have been treated worse. I hated having to make this decision, but in the end it will be best for all concerned,” he added. “As President, I will always be there to help New York and the great people of New York. It will always have a special place in my heart!”
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House, is the place I have come to love and will stay for, hopefully, another 5 years as we MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, but my family and I will be making Palm Beach, Florida, our Permanent Residence. I cherish New York, and the people of…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2019
….this decision, but in the end it will be best for all concerned. As President, I will always be there to help New York and the great people of New York. It will always have a special place in my heart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2019