Trump derides Gov. DeSantis as ‘Ron De-Sanctimonious’

The simmering political war between former President Trump and Ron DeSantis burst into view Saturday night, when Trump referred to the Florida governor as “Ron De-Sanctimonious.”

Trump’s first public derogatory nickname for DeSantis came just three days before Tuesday’s Florida election in which the governor faces Democrat Charlie Crist. Most polls suggest DeSantis has a comfortable lead in the race.

It happened during a rally in Pennsylvania, where Trump was stumping for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz.

The former president put poll numbers on a screen purporting to show Republican voter preferences for the GOP nomination for president in 2024.

“There it is, Trump at 71. Ron De-Sanctimonious at 10 percent,” said Trump. “Mike Pence at 7; oh, Mike Pence [is] doing better than I thought.”

Representatives of the governor did not respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “sanctimonious” as “hypocritically pious or devout.” The Oxford dictionary says it means “making a show of being morally superior to other people.”

On Sunday, Trump campaigned for Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in Miami. He supported both Rubio and DeSantis, calling them “America-first Republicans” and did not repeat his quip about the governor.

During the 2016 presidential campaign Trump tagged Rubio with the nickname of “Little Marco” as the two ran for the GOP nomination. Rubio dropped out of the race after losing to Trump in the Florida GOP primary.

DeSantis had been a staunch ally of Trump, who famously endorsed him with a tweet in his first run for governor in 2017. But apparent presidential ambitions have soured that alliance.

Trump is reportedly on the verge of announcing another run for president as soon as next week. DeSantis has been widely considered to be a GOP candidate for the White House as well.

At a debate with Crist last month, DeSantis did not answer when his challenger asked him if we would promise to serve his full four-year term if he wins on Tuesday. DeSantis also has drawn criticism from fellow Republicans for refusing to say whether he would bow out of a 2024 campaign if Trump jumps in.

South Florida Sun Sentinel staff writer Anthony Man contributed to this report.