‘He’s getting killed’: Trump targets DeSantis at Las Vegas event
- Trump, the Republican frontrunner, hit the campaign trail in Nevada
- Trump: "Overrated" DeSantis begged him for an endorsement
- In Iowa, Trump criticized DeSantis for his stance on ethanol
(NewsNation) — Former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, hit the campaign trail in the swing state of Nevada Saturday.
He spoke at a GOP volunteer event in Las Vegas and talked about the border, the economy and leveled more shots at his biggest competitor in the crowded Republican presidential field.
As expected, Trump verbally attacked Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, telling the crowd DeSantis begged him for an endorsement in his governor’s race and called DeSantis overrated.
“I’m not a big fan of his and he’s highly overrated. He’s highly overrated. Remember, he’s the one that wanted to cut Social Security. He’s the one that wanted to raise the minimum wage and he voted on this. This isn’t just and the one thing you have to remember when a politician comes out with an initial plan and then they go into a corner because they’re getting killed because he’s getting killed,” Trump said. “Well, he also has no personality that helps right.”
In his nearly hour-long speech, Trump called the Biden administration incompetent and relitigated false claims about the 2020 election being stolen.
He did touch on key topics important to the Republican base, especially more recent cultural issues, saying transgender women should not be allowed to play in women’s sports.
He also hit Democrats on crime and the immigration crisis.
Trump attacked DeSantis in Iowa yesterday, criticizing his biggest rival at the moment for his stance on ethanol.
Trump told a Council Bluffs, Iowa, crowd that DeSantis “totally despises” the renewable fuel partially made from corn.
“Don’t forget, he was a congressman, and he was voting against it and fighting for years to kill every single job supported by this very important industry,” Trump said. “Ending the renewable fuel standard was one of his top priorities as a member of Congress. He wanted to end it. And if he had his way, the entire economy of Iowa would absolutely collapse.”
It’s still early, but a pro-DeSantis super pac is being pretty upfront about not hitting the mark that they want to be at now in this primary race, saying DeSantis is “way behind” in national polling.
When looking at polls in the crucial early nominating states, they indicate Trump has a double-digit lead over the Florida governor.
In Iowa, a poll commissioned by a pro-Trump PAC puts him ahead by 23 points.
In New Hampshire, Trump bests DeSantis by 28 points. In South Carolina, Trump is ahead by 23 points.
DeSantis has tried to hit back at Trump with a video highlighting some of Trump’s past comments on LGBTQ+ issues.
But even some conservatives say it missed the mark, some calling the video homophobic.