Former president Donald Trump said Florida governor Ron DeSantis "has always been a loser."
Trump made his comment in a new video from his Agenda 47 campaign.
The former president introduced the video by noting political action committee (PAC) Club for Growth's endorsement and support for DeSantis, who launched his bid for the Republican nomination in the 2024 Presidential Election in May.
Trump referred to DeSantis' official campaign announcement as the "worst presidential launch in history," stating the Florida governor supported cutting social security benefits along with increasing age requirements to 70-year-olds.
He further claimed the Florida governor voted to cut Medicare and was in favor of implementing a 23% national tax.
"Ron has always been a loser," Trump said, referencing the 2018 Republican Primary in Florida between DeSantis and opponent Adam Putnam. "He was going to lose the election in record numbers until I endorsed him."
"It was an artificial win."
"They were with me and they won," Trump said of Club for Growth, referring to them as "Club for No Growth," adding they "continuously lose" after he cut ties from the PAC. "Let's keep it that way,” he said.
Last week, Trump was federally indicted in a Florida court regarding his involvement possessing allegedly classified documents. Trump has pleaded “not guilty” to all 37 felony charges in the Department of Justice indictment.
“Trump was frowning at some points and was looking down toward the floor for most of the hearing,” ABC News reports. “Trump was already in the courtroom by about 2:45 p.m., ahead of the scheduled 3 p.m. start time. Seated at the same table as Trump was his aide and co-defendant, Walt Nauta.”
Trump waited in the courtroom silently for about ten minutes until the judge arrived.
The judge did not impose any travel restrictions or revoke his passport, nor were restrictions placed on him regarding owning or carrying firearms.
During a Thursday campaign stop, DeSantis was asked whether he would support Trump if he secures the Republican nomination.
DeSantis addressed Trump’s criticism of the Florida governor's response to COVID, saying the former president was "full of it."
"When you are saying that Cuomo did better on COVID than Florida, you are revealing yourself to just be full of it,” DeSantis said. “Nobody believes that. And you know why? I know that because I remember in 2020, 2021, when he was praising Florida for being open.”
The Florida governor said Trump previously touted his response to COVID.
“He used to say that all the time. Now all of a sudden, his tune is changing, and I would just tell people, do you find it credible?”
"Would you have rather been in New York during COVID under the Cuomo regime, or would you rather have been in the free state of Florida?” DeSantis said. “And I probably can count the number of Republicans on my hand in the nation who would have rather been under Cuomo in New York.”
