Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is vying for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, is facing backlash following a recent comment he made about former President Donald Trump’s supporters. Critics are drawing parallels between DeSantis’ statement and Hillary Clinton’s controversial remark during the 2016 presidential campaign.
During an interview, DeSantis expressed his belief that the Trump movement revolves around personality rather than a solid foundation in principles. He argued that a movement should not solely rely on an individual’s personality but should be grounded in principles that benefit the American people.
DeSantis’ comment, which stated that “if you’re not rooted in principle, if all we are is listless vessels that are just supposed to follow… that’s not going to be a durable movement,” has sparked backlash from Trump’s base and drawn comparisons to Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” statement.
The Trump campaign and its supporters quickly seized on DeSantis’ comment, pointing out the similarities between the two statements and suggesting that DeSantis is repeating Clinton’s failed approach. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, emphasized these parallels and implied that DeSantis is following in Clinton’s footsteps.
In response, DeSantis’ campaign defended his remarks, clarifying that they were directed towards specific congressional endorsers who are viewed as lacking conviction by both Trump and those within Washington. The campaign reiterated DeSantis’ belief that trust should be earned and highlighted his strong vision, plans, and record as a candidate to challenge Joe Biden.
Additionally, Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy weighed in on the controversy, criticizing DeSantis as a “robotic” politician who blindly follows commands from Super PACs.
This fallout from DeSantis’ comment underscores the sensitivity of political discourse, especially in the context of a competitive presidential race. As the Republican primary debate approaches, candidates are acutely aware of the potential impact of their statements on public perception and voter sentiment.