The Republican Party is currently facing internal divisions as former President Donald Trump has launched a series of attacks against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump criticized DeSantis’ response to the pandemic, and his stance on crime, and even used mocking nicknames for him during a recent rally in Texas. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, however, has stressed the importance of Republicans not going after one another and instead, uniting to bring the nation back together. In this article, we will examine the ongoing feud between Trump and DeSantis and McCarthy’s views on Republican unity.
McCarthy Addresses Trump’s Attacks on DeSantis
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was asked about former President Donald Trump’s recent attacks on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during an appearance on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
Jesse Watters: “Now, you’re the Speaker of the House. When you hear the former president – he’s leading in the Republican primary – just go after the Florida governor like that, we think he’s getting in soon. How does that make you feel?”
Kevin McCarthy: “Look, the thing I look at is there is enough problems that the Democrats have brought us. We have inflation. We have a border that’s wide open. We pay more for gasoline energy. We’ve got a world moving with war happening. I don’t think Republicans should go after one another. We need to bring this nation back. Bring Republicans in, independents, and Democrats too because we cannot handle four more years of Joe Biden. We can’t afford it.”
Trump repeatedly attacked DeSantis over the weekend while campaigning in Waco, Texas. McCarthy stated that he believes Republicans should not go after one another, and instead, they need to bring the nation back together by uniting Republicans, independents, and Democrats. McCarthy did not address the specific criticisms Trump made toward DeSantis.
Trump’s Attacks on DeSantis
Trump set his sights on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during a recent rally, criticizing DeSantis’ response to the pandemic, his stance on crime, and using mocking nicknames for him. According to Fox News, Trump has attacked DeSantis four times more than President Joe Biden. Joining Trump at the rally were guests including Rep. Matt Gaetz and Mike Lindell, who referred to DeSantis as “Trojan horse Ron DeSantis” and suggested that he should endorse Trump. Trump attorney Christina Bobb also attacked DeSantis, stating that he would “come out a bloodied pulp” if he entered the race.
“If he actually does try to enter this race, [he] will come out a bloodied pulp.”
Trump’s attacks on DeSantis will focus on five areas, according to Axios. These include DeSantis’ past support for changes to Social Security and Medicare, his disloyalty to Trump after the former president helped him get elected, his perceived lack of likability, his response to COVID, and his stance on financial and military support for Ukraine. Trump plans to cast DeSantis as a lackey of former House Speaker Paul Ryan, whom he attacked on his social media site, Truth Social.
DeSantis’ cautious response to the pandemic, despite his resistance to mask mandates, is expected to be a primary target of Trump’s attacks. Trump plans to argue that DeSantis was too slow to act during the earliest days of the pandemic, despite DeSantis’ order to shut down beaches and businesses in Broward and Palm Beach in March 2020.
DeSantis’ recent muddled comments about maintaining financial and military support for Ukraine are also likely to be a target of Trump’s attacks. Trump plans to portray DeSantis as wishy-washy on the war and not aligned with the “MAGA” line of cutting aid.
A Trump confidant noted that there is a “pre-Trump Ron and a post-Trump Ron,” suggesting that DeSantis has moved away from his Reagan Republican roots and is now attempting to align himself with the populist nationalist feeling of the Republican Party.
McCarthy’s Views on Republican Unity
During his appearance on Fox News, McCarthy emphasized the importance of Republicans not going after one another. He believes that the nation needs to be brought back together, and that Republicans, independents, and Democrats should unite to avoid another four years of Joe Biden. McCarthy did not elaborate on how this could be achieved or address the specific criticisms made by Trump towards DeSantis.
