Former President Donald Trump said it would be “a mistake” for Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to campaign for the presidency in 2024, arguing that “the base would not like it.”
“I don’t know that he’s running,” Trump said while speaking about DeSantis aboard his Boeing 757 on Monday night, the Wall Street Journal reported. Trump was flying to Florida after showing up to support Republican Senate candidate JD Vance in Ohio. (RELATED: Trump Shows Up To Support J.D. Vance In Ohio, Says ‘Very Big Announcement’ Coming)
“I think if he runs he could hurt himself very badly,” Trump continued.
“If he runs, he runs,” Trump said, adding, “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.”
Trump did not announce if he would be campaigning in 2024 on Monday, despite circulating rumors. The former president did say he has a “very big announcement” coming on Nov. 15.
No candidate has officially announced their 2024 campaign, and Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton has said he will not be running due to family reasons. President Joe Biden has said repeatedly that he will be running, but has not made an official announcement.
REPORTER: “Did you vote for Governor DeSantis?”
TRUMP: “Yes, I did.”pic.twitter.com/YMSEeKw9cN
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 8, 2022
The pair has been cited as the two top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, and Trump has issued blows to DeSantis before.
Trump took a dig at DeSantis on Saturday, noting his low polling numbers and calling him ‘Ron DeSanctimonious.'” On Tuesday, however, Trump told reporters he voted for DeSantis in the Florida gubernatorial election.
Trump then said DeSantis should have been more gracious for his support in the Florida governors’ first gubernatorial run.
“Ron is a person, I’ve always had a decent relationship with him, but when I endorsed him, he was gone,” Trump said in an interview with NewsNation.
“He was not going to be able to even be a factor in the race, and as soon as I endorsed him, within moments the race was over,” Trump said. “I got him the nomination. He didn’t get it, I got it. Because the minute I made that endorsement, he got it.”
“I thought that he could have been more gracious, but that’s up to him,” Trump added.
The Daily Caller contacted the DeSantis team and did receive an immediate response.