(Ken Silva, Headline USA) Bloomberg has published an inside look of Donald Trump’s early 2024 presidential aspirations, revealing that Trump is workshopping potential new nicknames for his perceived main rival in the GOP primaries, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Based on anonymous sources close to Trump, Bloomberg reported Friday that the former president “spends many mornings golfing and then, in the afternoons, plots his political comeback.”
Trump’s plotting consists of brainstorming new nicknames for DeSantis, according to Bloomberg.
“Trump, allies say, seems set on ‘Ron DeSanctimonious,’ even though others around him don’t think it’s a bullseye,” Bloomberg reported. “Some of the new ideas the former president’s entertained: ‘Ron DisHonest.’ ‘Ron DeEstablishment.’ Or even, ‘Tiny D.’”
The Bloomberg article also reported that Trump’s team has spent “weeks” trying to dig up dirt on DeSantis’s record as governor and as a member of Congress, including his support for raising the U.S. retirement age and partly privatizing Medicare.
DeSantis, for his part, has yet to declare his candidacy for the 2024 elections, and he has largely remained silent in the face of increasingly nasty attacks from Trump.
For instance, Trump suggested on his Truth Social account last month that DeSantis is a “groomer.” He reposted a meme featuring what appears to be a young DeSantis with several young ladies drinking beer, with the caption: “Here is Ron DeSanctimonious grooming high school girls with alcohol as a teacher.”
“That’s not Ron, is it?” Trump commented. “He would never do such a thing!”
DeSantis took the high road in response, saying later that month that he’s more focused on “delivering results for the people of Florida and fighting against Joe Biden.
“I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans,” he added.
The Bloomberg story said DeSantis allies are expected to soon unveil a super PAC to support his campaign, which will allow him to raise more money from donors before an official announcement.
“People close to DeSantis expect him to declare he’s running in late May or early June, after Florida’s state legislative session,” Bloomberg reported.
Bloomberg also said that support for DeSantis is growing among conservatives because many voters are seeking “Trump policies without the Trump baggage.”
But the one issue Trump has demonstrated a meaningful difference from all other presidential candidates is his push for peace with Russia. Trump is also the only U.S. president in this century to not entangle the country in war.
“World War 3 has never been closer than it is now. We need to clear house,” Trump correctly said last month. “A lot of people don’t see it, but I see it. And I’ve been right about a lot of things …
“They all say, ‘Trump’s been right about everything.’”
Ken Silva is a staff writer at Headline USA. Follow him at twitter.com/jd_cashless.
