‘What Scares Me About Ron DeSantis Is That He Offers Trumpism Without Trump’
"View" co-hosts dismantle Florida governor
As Gov Ron DeSantis appears to edge closer to jumping into the race for president, co-hosts on the popular TV talk show The View took the Florida governor apart Monday, with one comparing him to “a parasite.”
His appearance over the weekend in Iowa stoking speculation that DeSantis was ready to launch a campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, co-hosts of ABC's The View put discussion of him front-and-center on Monday's program.
DeSantis would have to face off against Donald Trump, who currently is the distant frontrunner for that nomination as the former president seeks to return to the White House.
“He’s in the business of otherizing people. But I will say: what scares me about Ron DeSantis is that he offers Trumpism without Trump,” said co-host Sunny Hostin. “So, those people that are so repelled by Donald Trump, and there are many people, won’t be as repelled by him, I think.
“And those manufactured culture issues seem to be very effective with that base, that particular base, and part of the Republican Party as well,” she added, referring to the penchant DeSantis has shown in Florida to restrict the rights of women seeking abortions, as well as transgender Americans and others in the LGBTQ community, as well as others. “Definitely the right-wing part. I think that he can be effective.
“And let’s remember, he’s a lawyer. He’s Harvard and Yale-trained and educated. He’s not a stupid man,” Hostin said. “So he is really leaning into Trumpism, knowing what the base wants. And that scares me.”
Co-host Ana Navarro, a former Republican political strategist who previously worked in Florida, said that Trump's attacks on DeSantis — such as insulting DeSantis with nicknames like “Meatball Ron” — have been effective.
“Look, you know, that’s the thing about Donald Trump really, he has this ability to hone in on people’s defects, and say things that then stick. Right? ‘Little Marco.’ ‘Lying Ted.’ ‘Low energy Jeb.’ We all remember these things,” Navarro said. “And I think he’s hit it with Ron DeSantis, that he does lack charisma, he does lack personality, and Ron DeSantis better hope that winning and governing is not about entertainment, because he’s certainly not entertaining.
“And I think that the town hall last week showed that a lot of people in the Republican base still really like Trump’s entertainment and circus,” she added, referring to CNN's town hall forum featuring Trump. “Ron DeSantis has a problem. Ron DeSantis’ numbers have dropped drastically since he won re-election in November.”
The obsession DeSantis has shown for divisive culture issues isn't actually doing him any favors either, Navarro said.
“I think it’s because he’s attached himself like a parasite to every single manufactured culture war issue he can, and people, particularly Floridians, see through it,” she said. “It really kind of like an old schtick now. Drag queens, Mickey Mouse, AP black history courses — I mean, it’s just crazy.”
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