Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is not shying away from responding to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), who criticized him over the weekend.
McCarthy criticized DeSantis in an interview Sunday, saying he is “not on the same level as President Trump.”
DeSantis has since seized on those comments, seeking to hone an anti-establishment message and juxtapose himself with what he describes as the big spenders in Washington, DC.
“We were supposed to have a red wave in 2022. That crashed and burned across the country. [In] Florida, we did it. We gave them four additional Republican congressmen,” DeSantis told Fox Business on Tuesday.
“Since Kevin has been in Congress, they have added trillions and trillions of dollars to the debt, even when we had a unified Republican government.”
“Since Kevin has been in Congress, they have added trillions and trillions of dollars to the debt, even when we had a unified Republican government,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday of the House speaker. SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
That rebuttal Tuesday follows an even harsher response Monday during a news conference in Jacksonville.
“[McCarthy] He said we are different. We are different because in Florida we have had budget surpluses. We have paid almost 25% of our state’s debt since I have been governor,” said DeSantis.
Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) responds to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for saying he is “not on the same level” as Trump:
“We were supposed to have a red wave in 2022. That crashed and burned across the country. Florida, we did it. We gave them 4 additional Republican congressmen.” pic.twitter.com/FiuiaJGe7K
– The count (@therecount) September 19, 2023
Kevin McCarthy has argued that a government shutdown would be political nonsense.REUTERS
“I’m not someone the DC establishment wants to see up there.”
The 45-year-old Florida governor also credited Sunshine State Republicans for helping the party take back the House of Representatives.
Republicans had a five-seat majority at the beginning of the year, now reduced to four seats due to the retirement of Utah Rep. Chris Stewart. Florida helped gain four seats in the lower house.
“I served with Ron DeSantis [in Congress]. He is not on the same level as President Trump by any means,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo.AP
McCarthy’s snub against DeSantis came amid reports that the governor had a call with Freedom Caucus Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Bob Good (R-Va.), as well as Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), and urged them. to “keep fighting,” according to Politico.
“I served with Ron DeSantis [in Congress]. He is not on the same level as President Trump by any means,” McCarthy (R-Calif.) told Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo.
“He would not have been chosen [governor] without the support of President Trump.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has argued that he is not a creature of the D.C. establishment. Getty Images
Trump, who gave McCarthy a boost during his historically unprecedented 15-vote marathon to the presidency, has also credited his endorsement for helping DeSantis win the governorship in 2018.
McCarty has yet to make a formal endorsement in the 2024 race.
During his time in Congress from 2013 to 2018, DeSantis became a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, which has been a thorn in McCarthy’s side.
More than a dozen bloc members have come out against a temporary government funding patch to avoid a shutdown at the end of the month.
In addition to being upset by DeSantis’ alleged encouragement of House Republican rebels, McCarthy appears keen to avoid alienating Trump. SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
In addition to being upset by DeSantis’ alleged encouragement of House Republican rebels, McCarthy appears keen to avoid alienating Trump.
In June, McCarthy stoked the ire of Trump World by questioning whether the former president is “the strongest one to win the election,” comments he quickly retracted.
Trump remains the GOP’s overwhelming 2024 favorite, with a 43.9-point lead over DeSantis, his closest foe in the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.
Republican presidential hopefuls are preparing for the second debate on September 27, which Trump has already said he plans to skip.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn