House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) addressed during an interview on Monday night former President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
McCarthy’s remarks come after Trump repeatedly attacked the governor over the weekend while campaigning in Waco, Texas, much the the dismay of the crowd.
McCarthy was asked about the attacks during an appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime” after being shown a clip of Trump’s remarks.
“Now, you’re the Speaker of the House,” Watters said. “When you hear the former president – he’s leading in the Republican primary – just go after the Florida governor like that, we think he’s getting in soon. How does that make you feel?”
“Look, the thing I look at is there is enough problems that the Democrats have brought us,” McCarthy responded. “We have inflation. We have a border that’s wide open. We pay more for gasoline energy. We’ve got a world moving with war happening.”
“I don’t think Republicans should go after one another,” he continued. “We need to bring this nation back. Bring Republicans in, independents, and Democrats too because we cannot handle four more years of Joe Biden. We can’t afford it.”
A lengthy clip of Trump’s rally flagged by Mediaite showed the former president’s attacks not landing well with the crowd, who grew mostly silent. “Compared to how Trump’s crowd normally reacts to his bits, the reaction to his mocking DeSantis was practically dead air,” the report said.
Trump attacked DeSantis response to the pandemic, said that DeSantis was “not good” on crime, and mocked him with nicknames. Trump’s attacks come as an analysis from Fox News this week found that Trump attacks DeSantis four times more than he attacks President Joe Biden.
“When a man comes to me with tears in his eyes, he’s had almost nothing in the polls,” Trump claimed while referencing DeSantis’ 2018 gubernatorial run. “He’s at almost nothing, he’s got no cash.”
“And I said, I can’t give you an endorsement. There’s no way you can when you’re dead,” Trump claimed. “I said, let’s give it a shot, Ron. I endorsed him. He became like a rocket ship. Within one day the race was over.”
Trump’s guests also attacked DeSantis at the rally, including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Mike Lindell.
Lindell called DeSantis “Trojan horse Ron DeSantis,” and then said that “the best thing he can do is endorse Donald Trump tomorrow morning.”
Trump attorney Christina Bobb also attacked DeSantis in Waco, saying that “if he actually does try to enter this race, [he] will come out a bloodied pulp.”