DeSantis ad drops RIGHT before Trump’s NRA speech branding him ‘coward’ on guns
There’s no love lost between Donald Trump and Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, whose super PAC, Never Back Down, dropped a campaign ad calling Trump a “coward” when it came to gun control — just before the former president NRA addressed in a speech.
The ad calls Trump a “gun-grabber” who has attacked the National Rifle Association.
Both Trump and DeSantis both spoke at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum along with a host of other Republican leaders — though Trump appeared in person in Indiana while DeSantis appeared via video.
The damaging ad accuses Trump of aligning himself with anti-gun Democrats, citing President Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi.
It opens with an archive clip of Trump speaking at an earlier NRA event, with the narrator saying, “Trump promised NRA members he would stand with them.” But when Second Amendment rights came under attack, Trump abandoned us and supported the liberal Democrats.”
Never Back Down super PAC, which supports Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, has released an ad attacking former President Trump as a ‘gun grabber’
The ad was dropped moments before, as the former president addressed the NRA in a speech
The ad then shows clips of Trump supporting gun control measures, such as “red flag” laws, and working with Democrats, including Senator Dianne Feinstein, on gun control.
It also compares some of Trump’s past statements on the issue of gun control to what liberals have said, painting him as someone who has abandoned Second Amendment principles.
“Trump cut and run like a coward,” the voiceover says, along with an image of a Breitbart headline calling Trump a gun grabber.
“Trump, the gun grabber, doesn’t deserve a second chance,” the ad concludes.
The Trump campaign also released a political ad targeting DeSantis, albeit about completely unrelated political issues — but the timing of the governor’s seat was clearly designed to have maximum impact.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also spoke at the event, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, but virtually
DeSantis PAC’s ad accuses Trump of being a ‘gun grabber’ who joins anti-gun Democrats
The ad summed up what the NRA saw as betrayal by Trump as it listed several Democrats he had sided with
The ad was designed to have maximum impact as it was released right before Trump spoke
Despite this, it is clear that the rivalry between Trump and DeSantis is increasing as the 2024 primaries approach.
DeSantis has not yet officially announced his candidacy for the 2024 presidential race, but he is still seen as Trump’s main rival in the GOP primary.
His speeches at various GOP events across the country have led to large crowds and record-breaking fundraisers from supporters urging him to run.
The 44-year-old legislator is an exceptional fundraiser with a $110 million war chest.
But $80 million of that is tied to the Sunshine State and cannot be transferred to a presidential campaign. DeSantis has yet to declare his intentions, although it seems almost certain he will.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has enjoyed a huge bump in the polls in the wake of his indictment on hush money charges and subsequent indictment.
Trump, who until recently was seen as a co-supporter, has had his campaign boosted by the indictment of Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg and is once again raising huge sums of money.
Trump, until recently seen as a co-supporter, has had his campaign boosted by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s indictment and once again raises huge sums
Many grassroots Republicans and Independents have also been reminded of the former president’s sheer charisma and slovenliness, which even Democrats admit is a force to be reckoned with.
DeSantis has so far kept many backers at bay while touring the country.
His aloofness would have cast doubt on his ability to campaign nationally among some senior Republicans and engage in “grip-and-grin” drivel.
But DeSantis’ defenders point to his prowess as a legislator, saying the Florida governor has always prioritized hard work and getting results over networking.
When it comes to fundraising, he would be prohibited by law from transferring state-raised dollars from Florida to a national presidential campaign.
Any attempt to transfer the money to the Never Back Down super PAC would almost certainly raise red flags among campaign finance watchdogs.
DeSantis polls seem to have fallen against Trump in recent weeks with 56 percent supporting Trump compared to just 23 percent supporting DeSantis.
although DeSantis’ nine-figure $110 million profit sounds impressive, but big fundraising doesn’t always translate into a win.
Donors and strategists cite the examples of former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as warnings.
Bush was an early frontrunner, having raised more than $100 million prior to his 2016 run, only to have his race fall flat early on.
It will be many months before the primary starts in early 2024, but DeSantis will have to make a decision before Trump takes the GOP nomination for a third time.