(Mark Pellin, Headline USA) Former President Donald Trump hasn’t officially declared a 2024 run for the White House, but a video that made its debut Tuesday might have bee an unofficial announcement of sorts.
Concurrent with Trump’s media drop, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis released what was primarily a state campaign spot for his reelection, but reflected some of the same national issues and concerns as the longer Trump video.
Both pieces showcased successes of pro free-market fiscal policies and pro-liberty social values, contrasted against the regressive, government-mandated policies and racially divisive values of the far-Left.
While Trump’s message started with bleak images and somber tones befitting the country’s decline under the Biden administration, both videos point to an optimistic future driven by an equally-applied rule of law, a prospering economy, energy independence and personal freedoms.
The themes running through both videos presented a striking contrast to the dark and divisive, dictatorial rants that President Joe Biden has unleashed in a series of increasingly vitriolic speeches that have attacked MAGA Republicans as threats to the country and democracy.
DeSantis and Trump both delivered messages of unity, equality and prosperity.
“Today we deliver for the people of Florida, yet again…” DeSantis says at the spot’s start, with the governor speaking to a crowd that dissolves into individual examples that showcase the results of his administration’s policies.
“You saved our jobs,” from a waitress, “You had our backs” from law enforcement, “You led by facts, not fear,” from a nurse.
“You let me go to school,” says a grade-school student, a tip to DeSantis’ successful approach to COVID academics. “You let us compete,” says a girl athlete, a likely reference to the governor’s popular fight against the Left’s radical transgender agenda.
Single best ad of the political cycle thus far. pic.twitter.com/ueycyDclOc
— Josh Hammer (@josh_hammer) September 6, 2022
Trump’s video started appropriately and necessarily bleak, with the former president providing a narrative over scenes portraying a “failing nation in decline,” with Biden’s agenda leading to the “highest inflation in over 40 years,” and “the highest energy costs in its history,” with a result that “we are no longer energy independent or energy dominant, which we were just two short years ago.”
“We are a nation that has weaponized its law enforcement against the opposing political party,” Trump says. “We are a nation that is hostile to liberty, freedom and faith.”
“But soon, we will have greatness again,” Trump assures, as the video shifts from bleak black-and-white to vivid color.
“It was hard-working patriots like you who built this country and it is hard-working patriots like you who are going to save this country,” Trump says.
“As long as we are confident and united, the tyrants we are fighting do not stand even a little chance. It is time to start talking about greatness for our country again.”
The screen fades to printed script that reads “… the best is yet to come.”
The videos combined, stripped of campaign pomp, represent the MAGA Republicans’ pro-liberty values and policies that Biden has demonized as a “threat to the country.”
It’s a chilling difference that’s hard to miss or ignore, heading into the midterms.
