by If re-elected in 2024, Donald Trump is set to exact “revenge” on his political rivals, federal officials and even former allies like Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis, according to Trump’s niece Mary Trump.
On a Friday episode of her podcast The Mary Trump ShowMrs. Trump was interviewed by a New York University historian Ruth Ben-Ghiatand the pair agreed that strongman leaders like Mr. Trump who find themselves in legal jeopardy will often continue to seek power to punish their enemies and avoid punishment themselves.
Ms. Ben-Ghiat believes the former president will especially resent Mr. DeSantis, the most successful of the Republicans at parroting Mr. Trump’s style and false claims for the 2022 election, because Florida Gov. he has reaped all the political benefits without facing federal investigations and impeachment hearings.
“He must be especially upset with Mr. Ron DeSantis who has learned all his lessons as the most unscrupulous of the bunch,” Professor Ben-Ghiat, author of Strong: Mussolini to datehe said.
“It’s booming and Trump is in limbo, which increases the chances of him running, because he has to come back, shut everything down, get revenge,” he added. “That’s what strong men are like.”
Trump endorsed DeSandis during his 2018 bid for Florida governor, but the pair’s relationship has soured as the former president’s protégé has risen nationally and is seen as Trump’s only serious challenger on the Democratic presidential ticket Party of 2024.
In a forthcoming book by New York Times Correspondent Maggie Haberman, reportedly, Mr. Trump he complained that Mr. DeSantis is “fat,” “fake,” and “a whiner.” (Mr Trump has said the book is inaccurate.)
The former president is also said to have taken issue with Mr. DeSantis’ recent, highly controversial migrant flights carrying asylum seekers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, with Mr. Trump, a staunch opponent of immigration. claiming the trick was “his idea”.
As early as 2021, Mr. Trump was somewhat wildly claiming that he was responsible for Mr. DeSantis’ success.
“Well, I don’t know that he wants to run [in 2024]You know, I have a good relationship with Ron,” Trump said said an interviewer. “But I was very responsible for his election, as you know.”
The Florida governor, for his part, is also feeling the strain in his relationship with Donald Trump.
“[DeSantis] calling him a televangelist and a fool who has no business being president,” former staffer he said Vanity fair.
In a heavily reported profile of the Florida governor, those close to him said Mr. DeSantis would run against Mr. Trump in a hypothetical 2024 primary, though neither has formalized their suspected bids. the White House.
“DeSantis says the only way to beat Trump is to attack him head-on,” a GOP source told the magazine.. “He says he would turn to Trump during a debate and say, ‘Why didn’t you fire Fauci?’ You said you would build the wall, but there is no wall. Because this?'”
