It seems things are heating up between the two biggest stars in the GOP and I have no idea what's going to happen:
This is going to be fun, isn't it??
The alleged clash comes amid the ongoing search-and-rescue op in Miami where a 12-story condo building collapsed, leaving over 100 people still unaccounted for in the rubble after days of cleanup.
Trump, who has started doing rallies around the nation again, has an upcoming event this weekend 200 miles away in Sarasota.
DeSantis has reportedly asked Trump to postpone the event (which is sure to draw a lot of media attention), likely because he knows how our garbage media will connect the event on the other side of the state to the Miami incident and paint both men in a negative light.
DeSantis's office has "made a direct plea" to the former president's team, calling on it to postpone the Saturday event in Sarasota. One Florida Republican bluntly said Trump and his team need to "read the room."
DeSantis' office denies The Washington Examiner's report that he made such a request, however:
"Gov. DeSantis is focusing on his duties as governor and the tragedy in Surfside, and has never suggested or requested that events planned in different parts of Florida — from the Stanley Cup Finals to President Trump's rally — should be canceled," said the Florida governor's press secretary, Christina Pushaw.
Regardless, I can practically read the CNN headlines now:
- "DeSantis criticized for allowing Trump to hold massive rally amid somber cleanup efforts in Miami"
- "Families mourn in Miami as Trump rallies GOP, DeSantis voters in weekend rally"
Trump, on the other hand, doesn't care at all about the garbage media complex.
The former prez is going to hold his rally come hell or high water.
"Like all Americans, President Trump sends his deepest condolences to those who've lost loved ones or been displaced by the terrible tragedy in Surfside. The event in Sarasota, however, is on the other side of the state, 3 1/2 hours away, approximately the same distance from Boston to New York, and will not impact any of the recovery efforts," said Trump spokeswoman Liz Harrington. "In fact, President Trump has instructed his team to collect relief aid for Surfside families both online and on-site at the Sarasota rally."
To make things even more complex, the woman leading Trump's post-presidential operations, Susie Wiles, has worked on campaigns for both men, but her relationship with DeSantis reportedly soured after his 2018 campaign.
DeSantis's feud with Wiles is well-documented and flared up during last year's presidential race when she returned to Trump's side.
The governor at that time sought to dissuade donors from contributing to the Republican National Convention because of Wiles's involvement in the planning, according to a report.
An operative suggested the bad blood between Wiles and DeSantis was clouding the decision to keep the rally on schedule, a source said. "Because Ron DeSantis doesn't want it, she's gonna make sure it happens," this source said. "The governor supports the president, but something awful just happened in his state."
Whether or not this particular story is true, DeSantis and Trump are on a collision course as the two heaviest heavyweights in the GOP.
So what's gonna happen once DeSantis begins to publicly split from Trump on issues?
I have no clue, but it's gonna be a crazy ride!
Trump is gonna Trump, and people either love him or hate him for it. DeSantis is much more savvy in picking his battles, and people either love him or hate him for it.
If DeSantis can find a way to differentiate himself from Trump without alienating Trump supporters, he will have aced a test that no one at his level has been able to pass. The governor may have beat Trump in a recent straw poll, but he needs the support of Trump country if he's going to win the White House in 2024.
If anyone needs me, I'll just be over here eating some popcorn and seeing how this game of political intrigue plays out!