Trump on DeSantis: ‘I think he had a rough opening’

Sarah Fortinsky
·2 min read
3
Trump on DeSantis: ‘I think he had a rough opening’
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Former President Trump on Thursday went after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R) campaign launch in Trump’s first on-camera remarks since his top primary opponent officially joined the presidential race with a rocky start the evening before.

“I think he had a rough opening,” Trump told NewsNation when asked about DeSantis’s campaign launch on Twitter spaces, which was marred by technical glitches.

DeSantis’s announcement confirmed months, if not years, of speculation that he is eyeing the White House. It also amounted to one of the most significant developments in the 2024 Republican presidential contest since November, when Trump announced he would once again seek the party’s nomination.

Trump, who has steadily led his 2024 GOP primary opponents in national polls in recent weeks, said he’s feeling “great” about the state of the presidential race, touting some recent poll numbers he said he saw.

“They’re all good. The polls look really nice,” he told reporters.

More on DeSantis’s launch from The Hill

DeSantis has so far been Trump’s most formidable candidate but still trails behind him by double-digits. Other GOP primary candidates, however, have polled only in the single digits.

Still, those opponents have taken to attacking DeSantis, which bubbled over Wednesday night after he announced his intention to launch a 2024 campaign on a Twitter spaces platform that cut in and out and at one point was abruptly cut off entirely.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Trump took to social media with a much harsher tone during the DeSantis launch the evening before, mocking the Florida governor and calling him “fatal” and a “disaster.”

“Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social, adding later, “Is the DeSantis launch FATAL …Yes!”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.