Hurricane Milton rips roof off Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play and man the stadium that was used as staging site for responders really took a beating during the storm. The Roof was badly damaged Wednesday night as Hurricane Milton slammed the region. Video posted by CBS affiliate WTSP and aerial photos of the stadium show that the fabric that served as the domed building's roof had been ripped to shreds.
A drone image shows the dome of Tropicana Field torn open by Hurricane Milton in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Oct. 10, 2024. BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
The St. Petersburg Fire Rescue has since confirmed that there were no injuries in the aftermath of the storm. It was not immediately clear how much damage there was inside the stadium but it's clear the entire roof needs to be re done, and the drone video posted on social media showed the roof completely ripped to shreds with debris all over the field.
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Dave Moore also posted images of the damaged stadium on social media.
The view from our window as we ride out the storm. The roof of Tropicana Field is destroyed by the winds of #HurricaneMilton. Praying for Tampa Bay and all areas affected. Stay safe, everyone pic.twitter.com/uy0aNGMAuJ
WTSP reported that Tropicana Field had been hosting thousands of linemen and National Guard members as they prepared to respond to damage from the storm. Photos from earlier this week showed rows of cots covering the baseball diamond. Gov. Ron DeSantis' press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, said in a social media post that the staging area had already been relocated before the roof was damaged. The Rays media guide, reported that Tropicana Field features the world's largest cable-supported domed roof and is "built to withstand winds of up to 115 miles per hour."
According to the National Weather Service, Albert Whitted Airport, which is located about six minutes away from Tropicana Field, recorded wind gusts up to 101 mph during the 10 p.m. hour. The stadium in St. Petersburg opened in 1990 and initially cost $138 million, according to The Associated Press. It was due to be replaced in time for the 2028 season with a $1.3 billion ballpark. After making landfall near Sarasota with a Category 3 status, Hurricane Milton weakened to a Category 1 storm as it crossed Florida, and was expected to weaken further as it moves out over the Atlantic Ocean.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis who appeared at one point to be Donald Trump’s biggest GOP challengers, ran what most are calling a useless costly, turbulent campaign that failed to catch on with Republican voters. So it's our pleasure to say here on 100% pro Trump "Pure Solid News" that Ron DeSantis of Florida suspended his campaign for president on Sunday and endorsed former President Donald J. Trump, marking a spectacular implosion for a candidate once seen as having the best chance to dethrone Mr. Trump as the Republican Party’s nominee in 2024.
His departure from the race just two days before the New Hampshire primary election leaves Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, as Mr. Trump’s last rival standing. Trump celebrates DeSantis’ decision to drop out, ending a bitter feud that defined the 2024 campaign. Donald Trump set aside months of criticism and mockery of Ron DeSantis on Sunday night, celebrating his onetime Republican rival as his newest supporter after the Florida governor ended his presidential campaign and endorsed the former president.
For Trump, it’s become a familiar ritual to welcome the backing of someone who once tried to take him on. Nonetheless, it was notable at Sunday’s rally in New Hampshire to see Trump praise DeSantis without calling him “DeSantimonious” or “DeSanctus,” putting an end to perhaps the most bitter rivalry of Republicans’ 2024 campaign. “I just want to thank Ron and congratulate him on doing a very good job,” Trump said at the outset of his remarks. “He was very gracious, and he endorsed me. I appreciate that, and I also look forward to working with Ron.” Trump described DeSantis as “a really terrific person.”
Earlier in the day, DeSantis said via video that he would be ending his campaign two days before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation GOP primary. But, Trump’s glee Sunday night aside, it wasn’t the warmest of endorsements. “It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance,” DeSantis said, offering matter-of-fact analysis through a forced smile without adding plaudits for Trump.
“I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee, and I will honor that pledge,” he continued, before adding a dig at the remaining contender, Nikki Haley. DeSantis described the former U.N. ambassador and onetime South Carolina governor as a stand-in for “the old Republican guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism.” Trump seemed unbothered by DeSantis’ approach, striking a tone of camaraderie as fellow political combatants. “I will tell you it’s not easy,” Trump said Sunday night in Rochester. “They think it’s easy doing this stuff, right? It’s not easy.” Brenda Moneypenny, (Yes like in the 007 movies!) a 64-year-old from Alton, waited in the cold for two hours to see Trump on Sunday night. Miss Moneypenny pulled out her driver’s license to prove her last name cause well yeah it's like the 007 movies! She explained she's a registered independent who often votes Republican.
Miss Moneypenny said she has considered Haley because of the chance to elect the first woman to the presidency. But she never considered DeSantis. “Too flim-flamsy,” Moneypenny said of DeSantis. “He needs better campaign people. He doesn’t have anybody that’s doing him any favors right now.” Ultimately, she settled on Trump: “Tried and true,” she said. The former president seemed to revel in skewering DeSantis throughout the campaign, often making clear it was a personal grudge because he considered the governor’s decision to run in the first place an act of disloyalty. Trump endorsed DeSantis, then a congressman, in a competitive 2018 GOP primary for Florida governor. DeSantis went on to win the nomination and the general election. By the time DeSantis won a landslide reelection four years later, though, he was positioning himself for his own White House campaign.
In November when Trump came to Florida and addressed a boisterous crowd at a state GOP meeting standing in front of a sign that read: “Florida is Trump Country.” That evening, Trump did not mention DeSantis until more than 30 minutes into his speech. Even then, it was to brag about polls showing his advantages over the governor. “I endorsed him, and he became a rocket ship in 24 hours,” Trump said, claiming that DeSantis had begged for his endorsement. “Now he’s like a wounded falling bird from the sky.” Trump never did debate DeSantis or any other 2024 rival. He has said he wouldn’t until one proves they are a legitimate threat to him winning the nomination. DeSantis concentrated his campaign in recent months in Iowa, where he finished in second place in last week’s caucuses 30 percentage points behind Trump and barely ahead of Haley. Haley, meanwhile, has long prioritized New Hampshire as a potential springboard ahead of her home-state South Carolina primary next month.
In Iowa, APVoteCast surveys of caucusgoers suggested DeSantis’s supporters were much more likely than Haley’s to consider themselves conservatives who would back Trump no matter what if he wins the nomination and faces President Joe Biden in November. If that trend holds in New Hampshire, then Trump could expect at least some boost from DeSantis dropping out, and whatever he gets could stretch out his margin and frustrate Haley’s ability to claim any momentum. Indeed, Trump’s aides have said they expect DeSantis’ support around the country will shift heavily to Trump, who noted Sunday that he won New Hampshire’s 2016 primary by about 20 points. He lost the battleground state twice in general elections.
So after he wins re-election because the most people in Florida were very happy with how Governor DeSantis governed the state. But once he was elected governor for a second term it's like his ego went into space and perhaps this was why Trump gave us "SPACE FORCE" ? I know that's a joke and all but we have to look at yes we all here once loved the guy and still most would agree that overall he handled COVID well and has done many good things while governor.
But again after DeSantis was reelected in 2022 and most Floridians believed he could make a good VP pick for President Trump and were surprised when he decided to run for governor. DeSantis had to have the Florida law changed in order to run for President and held back his announcement until the law was changed. He then joined the race with a thud when he came out on Twitter, and it bombed.
DeSantis has not done well in the primaries but no GOP candidate has done well in the primaries other than President Trump. Now the Florida Republican Assembly is calling for his return. They released a declaration requesting that DeSantis come back to Florida and begin governing the state again.
Here is their declaration:
And for strengthening and enforcement of protections against unlawful and corrupt persecution and prosecution of American citizens. All these and more are issues in need of immediate action by Governor DeSantis. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Florida Republican Assembly urges Governor Ron DeSantis to conclude his presidential campaign and return to Florida to continue to serve out the remainder of his term as Governor. Furthermore, the Florida Republican Assembly requests that Governor DeSantis rededicate himself to the needs of Florida residents and prioritize their interests over his personal political ambitions. The Florida Republican Assembly recognizes that campaigning for office is an important aspect of the political process, but elected officials must always prioritize the needs of their constituents. We call upon Governor DeSantis and all elected officials of Florida to fulfill their duties with integrity and commitment to the people. Public service is a privilege, not a career advancement opportunity, and elected officials must always place the interests of their constituents first.
BREAKING REPORT: Florida Republican Assembly approves resolution DEMANDING Gov. Ron DeSantis END HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN and return to Florida to fulfill his duties.
“We elected our Governor to a 4-year term to take care of Florida. NOT PAY HIM TO CAMPAIGN for higher office.” pic.twitter.com/A63omIQtmh
President Trump now commands 61% of the voteamid Republicans, with no other candidate reaching double digits. Ron DeSantis has collapsed to 9% after losing two-thirds of his previous support.
Rupert Murdoch owns the New York Post who commissioned the statistically valid poll of 1,800 voters. [DATA HERE]
Within the results, President Trump now commands 61% of the vote amid Republicans, with no other candidate reaching double digits. Ron DeSantis has collapsed to 9% after losing two-thirds of his previous support. Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson no longer register any support.
Vivek Ramaswamy polls with 5%, the same as Mike Pence. The poll was conducted after the Republican primary debate.
More legal issues for the mouse house as reports that Disney District Criminal Investigation Is Just Tip Of The Iceberg. The former Reedy Creek Improvement District and its former Board members are being referred to the Florida State Inspector General for criminal investigation over alleged dirty Disney dealings, misuse of tax payer funds, and gifts that would be in violation of Florida State laws.
The former RCID spent over HALF A MILLION dollars purchasing Disney park passes for RCID employees in fiscal year 2022 alone in addition to other Disney resorts and perks all while Disney was effectively controlling the board itself and allegedly granting itself private contracts with the district.
Disney likely NEVER expected for anyone to ever dissolve the district as Desantis did last year and then start combing through the books.
Join LEGAL MINDSET and WDW PRO along with VALLIANT RENEGADE as they explain the situation. Check out this show about this! This guy covered this very well, and I will be talking about this also this week in the news.
So shocking nobody the now so called former President Donald Trump (Only former because he won!) is running away with his lead in the 2024 in the Republican presidential primary, consistently on top by double digits in multiple polls recently. On the June survey Emerson College had Trump lead DeSantis by a 38-percentage-point margin, 59% to 21%. Friends these numbers were worse, however, than his margin in the same poll two months ago, when he led by 46 points.
The poll also showed what former Vice President Mike Pence and others looked like and the traitor former VP came in third, at 6%.
The now former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley followed with 4% also entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at 2%. Not many know about him and he seems like a good enough guy but after Barrack Obama I don't know if we're ready for someone in the white house with a "Muslim Name" again. Not to sound like a bigot but Obamanation might have ruined that chance for another person with a Muslim name for a while.
So yes Donald Trump is leading by a margin of 20 points or more in other major polls taken in June. YouGov/Yahoo News’ recent survey, he is up 53% to 33% over DeSantis.
AYouGov/The Economistpoll from earlier this month showed that 41% of likely Republican primary voters believe Trump will probably win against President Joe Biden the highest among the pack, followed by DeSantis at 40% and Pence at 24%.
And on Sunday,NBC Newsreleased a survey conducted by Hart Research Associates and Public Opinion Strategies that shows Trump’s lead has expanded by five points since before his indictment in April, from 46% to 51%.
DeSantis’ lead dropped over the same period from 31% to 22% in that poll, with Pence and Haley receiving small one-point bumps each.
“For the first time in history, a former president has been indicted, and we can’t find a marker in this survey that it’s had an impact with his standing,” said Public Opinion Strategies co-founder Bill McInturff.
If President Joe Biden's Justice Department truly seeks to damage former President Donald Trump with investigations and indictments, it is not working.
Even the latest NBC News poll finds Trump has expanded his lead on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the rest of the primary field to 29 points, nearly doubling his lead from April (15 points). And we know much hate mainstream media has for Trump and NBC has not been kind to the former President.
So far the 51% majority of Republican primary voters nationwide now pick Trump over DeSantis (22%), former Vice President Mike Pence (7%), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (5%), with no other candidate getting more than 4%, according to the poll. The question after he recently got booed off stage is why does Chris Christie think people like him enough to be taken serious for the job? He's a slob, a Rino, an idiot, and worse of all! A Traitor.
"For the first time in history, a former president has been indicted, and we can't find a marker in this survey that it's had an impact with his standing," Republican pollster Bill McInturff of Public Opinion Strategies told NBC News.
Trump's support "is a strong starting number," McInturff added. "Something has to happen to shift this race." A 37-count federal indictment is not it. Trump was at 46% to DeSantis' 31% in April, which was conducted shortly after Trump's Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indictment.
"Not only are they sticking with Trump post-federal indictment, there are several signs that his support is growing or others are losing ground, particularly Ron DeSantis," Democrat pollster Jeff Horwitt of Hart Research Associates said of Republican voters.
Republican strategists have long noted a full field of challengers to Trump would merely split the share of the anti-Trump vote, while Trump holds a rock-solid base.
There is some of that found in this NBC poll, as the two-candidate Trump versus DeSantis race shows Trump picking up 9 points (60% support) and DeSantis gaining 14 points (36%) when the rest of the field is removed.
That 5-point boost is not enough to break Trump's hold on the Republican Party, although this is a nationwide poll and not a state-by-state primary delegate breakdown.
There are 64% of Republican voters who see the indictments and investigations of Trump as politically motivated, even if half of the party's voters are ready to consider a candidate other than Trump, according to the poll.
In a head-to-head hypothetical general election matchup, NBC News' poll gives Biden (49%) a 4-point edge over Trump (45%), which is just outside the margin of error.
"Looking back at 2020, the election was a referendum on Donald Trump," Horwitt, the Democrat pollster, told NBC News. "And if we have a Biden-Trump rematch, there are powerful signs that the focus will once again be more on Trump than Biden."
The NBC News poll was conducted June 16-20 among 1,000 registered voters and has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points. There were 500 Republican primary voters polled with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.38 percentage points.
My favorite Former PresidentDonald Trumpfinally explained why he calls Florida Gov.Ron DeSantis, his 2024 GOP presidential primary rival, as "Ron DeSanctimonious." Trump, who has also repeatedly called the Republican Gov. "Ron DeSanctus" along with a good one I like "Meatball Ron," but he finally explained the "DeSanctimonious" nickname during a Fox News interview that aired recently.
The former 45 also took credit for DeSantis' 2018 Florida gubernatorial election victory, while telling host Bret Baier that he used the derogatory moniker because the governor had shown that he was "disloyal" by deciding to challenge him for the presidency. To be honest I didn't know who DeSantis was until Trump endorsed him and only voted for him BASED on Trumps endorsement. This is why I'm with Trump on this one. Ron needs to wait until 2028.
"I got him elected and I thought it was very disloyal when he said 'yes, I'd run," Trump said. "I got him past two races. I got him past the primary because he was losing by 30 points or more ... It's a loyalty [question], I'm a big loyalist." AS I am Mr President "Some people say ... loyalty doesn't mean anything in politics," he continued. "I say, 'to me, it does.' I got the guy elected. He came to see me, let's say weeping, because he was dead ... As soon as I endorsed him, he won the primary, it was over." Like I stated I AM Proof of this claim.
Trump, who remains the GOP frontrunner despite facing federal and state felony criminal trials, went on to suggest that DeSantis should have dropped plans to run against him in the 2024 election "just out of respect."
Newsweek has reached out to the DeSantis campaign via its website for comment.
DeSantis, who is likely aware of the ex-president's continued popularity among Republicans, has been reticent to engage with Trump's rhetoric directly since announcing his intention to challenge him in 2024. However, the governor did address the ex-president's most frequent nickname for him before officially announcing his candidacy, saying, "I kind of like it," during a Piers Morgan interview in March. "I don't know how to spell DeSanctimonious," DeSantis said. "I don't really know what it means but, you know, I kind of like it. It's long. It's got a lot of vowels. I mean, we'd go with that. That's fine." So he just told the world he likes being disloyal? hmmm
"You know, you can call me whatever you want," he added. "I mean, just as long as you also call me a winner." The governor's wife, Casey DeSantis, has also recently been handed the nickname "Walmart Melania" a reference to former first lady Melania Trump by critics that include some Trump supporters. HAHA I have not heard this one myself but that's was hilarious. "Walmart Melania" LMAO!
Trump himself has not publicly referred to Casey DeSantis with the nickname, the former president has a long history of using derogatory nicknames to refer to his political opponents, including former allies who have since turned against him.
Last month, Trump referred to his former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany as "milktoast" an apparent misspelling of "milquetoast," a jab for a timid or bland person after she suggested that the Florida governor could be "closing the gap" in Iowa's GOP primary race.
Now this is what that means I guess.... "Etymology. From the character Caspar Milquetoast of the comic strip The Timid Soul, created by American cartoonist Harold Tucker Webster (1885–1952) and first published in 1924; the character was named after the American dish milk toast (“a food consisting of toasted bread in warm milk”)"
Trump also repeated an attack line that he has used against a significant number of his Republican critics during his attack on McEnany, calling her a "RINO," or "Republican in name only." I like her not just in looks but she was his Press Secretary for a bit so I don't know much about this one I have to look into why they beefing. Might be perhaps cause she's endorsed "DeSanctimonious" ? Don't know but if I get more information on this one I'll post on it. Either way I wonder why Ron likes the nickname?
IS He admitting that he's well not a Loyal dude? Now let me be clear here I mean I would vote for him DeSantis in 2028 Just NOT in 2024 because... Well... I sorta... Kind off... YES!
This shocks about nobody as Ron DeSantis has declared via his Twitter night with Elon Musk that he will indeed be running for the Oval office in 2024... This makes A LOT of people in Florida mad trust me as this state will be voting against him and for Trump. The truth is that Ron should have waited until 2028 many feel as he both owes it to Trump, and the FLA community who backed him and in a big turn out too for his re-election. Had it not been for Trump who endorsed him years ago Ron wouldn't even be Gov today. Sad that he's proven to be not very loyal to the man who got him the GOV push and helped him big time. Well I know who I'm voting for. Donald Trump. The trending hash tag since his announcement has been #DeSaster so don't expect this to be good... Too many GOP people sticking their toes in the race for The White House in 2024 and none has a chance at beating Donald Trump.
@GovRonDeSantis announced he’s running for president on Twitter. This was by far the biggest room ever held on social media. Twitter performed great after some initial scaling challenges. Thanks Twitter Team for adapting so quickly to make history!https://t.co/mTJ2INQ1Y7
WOW This is bad folks so after a period of glitches, and stuff Elon who isn't very keep on how these podcasts are ran stutters, and techs his way into introducing DeSantis... This is awful! Awfully funny! LOL It's almost like Elon was trying to F things up so DeSantis could have probably the most lame, and worst Presidential running announcement in history. LOL IF this isn't Musk trolling DeSantis I'll be shocked! HAHA!
Well by the end of Donald Trump's presidency, he can't wait to get back to work for us by doing right for our country in the agenda we all need to get behind. Amgerica FIRST! Tuesday evening, the former president announced his third consecutive campaign for the presidency. “America’s comeback starts right now,” Trump told a MAGA-friendly crowd assembled at his Mar-a-Lago compound.
With a backdrop of American flags, Trump said “everybody was thriving like never before” during his presidency, and that all President Joe Biden had to do was “sit back and watch.” But now, Trump claimed, “we are a nation in decline.” He mentioned gas prices, inflation, the economy, the southern border, and “the blood-soaked streets of our cities.”
“We are here tonight to declare that it does not have to be this way,” Trump said. “In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for President of the United States,” he said to the crowd’s delight.
His speech was some of the usual things we have come to expect from him now like a little too much self-congratulations as that can rub some as arrogance, and turn voters off he needs to watch that. He falsely alluded to fraud in the 2020 election (“China played a very active role in the 2020 election"), claimed Russia would have never invaded Ukraine if he were president, said “millions and millions” of immigrants were making “an invasion into our country,” touted his record on “the China virus,” and bizarrely claimed that climate change would only increase sea levels by one-eighth of an inch over the next 200 to 300 years.
But despite playing the hits, it was a bit low key compared to other speeches but this is just one of many to come so we must have patience, and see what he says next. Trump also officially filed his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday. But all is not well in Trumpworld.
After last week’s disappointing midterm election results for Republicans—particularly for the Republicans Trump endorsed—there’s a new sense in the GOP that Republicans ought to turn the page. Voters preferred Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to Trump as the GOP nominee in a recent YouGov poll conducted last week. GOP pundits have been slamming Trump since last week, after voters widely rejected his brand of politics at the ballot box. And Fox News chairman Rupert Murdoch has told confidants he has no plans to back.
Still, Trump is betting that by getting out ahead of the rest of the GOP candidates, he can clear the field and coalesce support around his candidacy. But this time around, it might not be so simple. For months, Trump has repeatedly inquired how his poll numbers compare to those of prominent Republicans, such as Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, South Dakota’s Governor Kristi Noem, and former Vice President Mike Pence. But Trump has particularly become fixated on DeSantis. As The Daily Beast reported last week, tensions between the camps are quietly simmering over, even as his advisers believe DeSantis won’t be a real threat to the former president.
“Trump’s going to end up doing to DeSantis and his wife what he did to Cruz and his wife,” a Trump adviser said, referencing how Trump went after Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016. Over the past month, Trump has turned to publicly mocking the Florida Governor as "Ron DeSanctimonious."
Trump’s early announcement would appear to put to DeSantis a question: Will he challenge Trump? And in that sense, Trump getting out ahead of the rest of the field would make some sense.As is usually the case with Trump, however, the announcement could also just be another representation of Trump’s make-it-up-as-you-go-along style of politics. Last week, Trump considered making his 2024 declaration at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, ahead of the midterms, which left many in Trump’s orbit scrambling to convince him otherwise. One adviser told The Daily Beast that the announcement (or lack thereof) was a game-time decision, comparing it to a “coin toss.”
And this past summer, advisers wondered if a July 4th announcement might occur in the spur of the moment. Trump is still declaring his 2024 candidacy before the midterm elections; the Georgia Senate election has gone to a runoff, and despite some advisers telling Trump he should wait until that race is over, Trump moved forward.
Trump seems to believe his candidacy could provide some protection from a potential criminal indictment over a number of alleged crimes, most notably his mishandling of classified materials. But former prosecutors say that thinking is flawed.
Now that he’s announced, Trump is counting on Republicans coming back to him. The question is whether independents—particularly a critical mass of independents—will find a way to support Trump. But the first step is getting some of Trump’s biggest cheerleaders back, as some major MAGA supporters have been showing some reservations lately.
"Yeah, I’m out,” pro-Trump and Dilbert cartoon creator Scott Adams wrote Saturday after Trump additionally attacked Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Likewise, Ann Coulter ripped into Trump recently and told him to “shut the fuck up, forever.”
“He’s also, I think, served his purpose in a way that I think many Republicans are satisfied with and they would prefer now to move on,” Federalist co-founder Ben Domenech recently said on Fox News.
It remains to be seen whether Trump Republicans would actually prefer to move on. After taking so many shots from Trump, the former president’s chief rival offered perhaps his sternest rebuke Tuesday.
Discussing his detractors, DeSantis said he would tell people “to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night,” alluding to election night results that weren’t favorable to Trump-backed candidates...
Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis responded to attacks from former President Donald Trump and the media on Tuesday ate it up like usual anything that had TRUMP or DeSANTIS on it will be big time headlines now. They said that Trump made a flurry of attacks against DeSantis in the days surrounding Election Day, calling him "Ron DeSanctimonious" and claiming to be responsible for his success in Florida. DeSantis.
Trump's most credible rival for a presidential run in 2024,remained silent on the issueuntil responding to questions on the topic at a Tuesday press conference.
"One of the things I've learned in this job is when you're leading, when you're getting things done, you take incoming fire. That's just the nature of it," DeSantis said in response to a question about Trump. "I roll out of bed in the morning and I have corporate media outlets that have a spasm just because I'm getting up in the morning, and it's just constantly attacking."
"I think what you learn is all of that is just noise, and really what matters is are you leading, are you getting in front of issues, are you delivering results for people, and are you standing up for folks," he continued. "At the end of the day I would just tell people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night."
Trump slammed DeSantis as "an average REPUBLICAN Governor with great Public Relations" in a statement last week. "And now, Ron DeSanctimonious is playing games! The Fake News asks him if he’s going to run if President Trump runs, and he says, "I’m only focused on the Governor’s race, I’m not looking into the future."
Well, in terms of loyalty and class, that’s really not the right answer," Trump said in the Truth Social thread after saying DeSantis came to him in 2017 in "desperate shape" ahead of his first gubernatorial election and Trump "fixed his campaign."
DeSantis' response comes just hours before Trump is expected to announce his 2024 presidential run at Mar-a-Lago.
Criticism of Trump, and support for DeSantis, have surged in the week following the disappointing midterm election results for Republicans. Many conservatives blamed Trump for endorsing poor candidates in key Senate and House races.
Meanwhile, Republicans in DeSantis' Florida fared extremely well, with the governor dispatching Democratic challenger Charlie Crist by nearly 20 points.
Many conservative commentators took the election results as a sign it was time for the GOP to move on from Trump. Commentators argued that Trump's candidates turned easy victories into close races,and close races into losses.
"All the chatter on my conservative and GOP channels is rage at Trump like I've never seen," Michael Brendan Dougherty, a senior writer at National Review, wrote on Twitter. "'The one guy he attacked before Election Day was DeSantis the clear winner, meanwhile, all his guys are s---ing the bed.'"
