Failed one-term, twice-impeached former president Donald Trump is hinting that if indeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) runs against him for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, he will destroy him by using whatever dirt he has.
The Wall Street Journalreports that Trump was speaking with journalists on the flight back from a rally he held in Miami when the topic of the Florida governor came up, leading the disgraced ex-president to remark:
“There’s our competitor, he’s a fine guy.”
But Trump’s tone soon turned dark and ominous as he mused about a possible 2024 run for the White House by DeSantis:
“If he runs, he runs. If he did run, I will tell you things about him that won’t be very flattering. I know more about him than anybody other than perhaps his wife, who is really running his campaign.”
Journal reporter Alex Leary also noted:
Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. DeSantis in his 2018 run for governor, lifting the tea party-styled congressman in a Republican primary over establishment favorite Adam Putnam. Mr. DeSantis went on to barely win the general election but Covid-19 helped turn him into a GOP darling as he eventually eschewed lockdowns and downplayed vaccine mandates. Mr. DeSantis has broken gubernatorial fundraising records nationally, pulling in some $200 million. The governor didn’t ask for Mr. Trump’s endorsement this time and nor did Mr. Trump formally offer one.
What sort of unflattering things might Trump be referring to? Well, there is the matter of DeSantis’ Italian-American heritage, which has led to rumors that he might have connections to organized crime. And there are also whispers about a possible sexual scandal that could be hiding in the governor’s past, though no one seems to know exactly what that might entail.
Of course, when one is dealing with Trump, it also pays to consider that he often says things just to start people chattering. After all, he’s a pathological liar and deeply insecure, needing to feel superior to others in order to mask his own faults, which are seemingly endless.
In other words, if DeSantis does indeed decided to challenge Trump for the 2024 nomination, he’d better watch his back and make sure there are no skeletons waiting to trip him up with the Donald’s help.