DeSantis lashes out at Trump, says it’s time to ‘send Biden to his basement’ at first Iowa rally

Ron DeSantis came out with guns blazing against President Joe Biden, Democratic policies and took veiled swipes at Donald Trump in his first campaign remarks since announcing his bid last week, as he and wife Casey DeSantis shined in Iowa.

Florida’s governor railed against the crossing of the border, which increased crime in Democratic cities, COVID-19 drug-use lockdowns, Biden’s failed withdrawal from Afghanistan and lamented that the president’s son, Hunter, was already in would be in jail if he were a Republican.

He vowed to send Biden “back to his basement,” a callback to the 2020 presidential election, when the president conducted most of his campaign from a makeshift television studio in the basement.

“We cannot allow the inmates to run the asylum,” he said in reference to the country’s current democratic leadership and state.

The governor and his wife and first lady Casey DeSantis of Florida sparkled, both with a more casual approach than usual and in matching light blue outfits

DeSantis also took lashes at his fellow Republicans, calling House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling agreement with President Biden a way to “steer” the country toward bankruptcy.

He distinguished himself from top competitor and former President Trump by claiming that he is not running for president to become famous.

“Ultimately, leadership isn’t about entertainment,” DeSantis said to loud cheers. “It’s not about building a brand. It’s not about virtue signalling. It’s about results.’

Casey went to work for her husband and received a warm welcome when she explained that her voice was “horse” because she “negotiated” with her kids that they couldn’t color with permanent marker on the dining room table.

The Florida first lady, often compared to iconic First Ladies Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Nancy Reagan, wore a light blue dress that matched her husband’s button-down.

An enthusiastic crowd gathered Tuesday night at Eternity Church outside Des Moines, Iowa, to hear from the newly announced nominee — many saw him speak for the first time.

Stirring up the crowd, DeSantis said the recent line calling Iowa the Florida of the North is actually the opposite — and that Florida is the Iowa of the Southeast.

There were mainly two types of attendees on Tuesday night: those determined to get DeSantis nominated for the 2024 Republican ticket and others testing the waters to see if they are ready to stop voting for a third straight election for Donald Trump .

The distinction could usually be discerned by those wearing pro-DeSantis placards and decked out in swag with the governor’s name on it versus those in civilian clothes.

Mitch, 46, brought his son to the event and said he is on a fact-finding mission and will attend both the DeSantis remarks and another event Thursday in Iowa with former President Trump.

Roxanne, 68, said she voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, but said his “personality” has turned her off and made her curious about what other candidates have to offer.

While she has no “expectations,” Roxanne told DailyMail.com that she came to DeSantis’ first campaign since announcing his candidacy “just to find out, to listen to him, just to get a sense of who he is. ‘

“I would like him to be a unifier,” she added when asked what she would like from a presidential candidate. “I don’t just mean for the entire country, but the Republican, you know, first — we have so much disagreement within the party.”

Florida Governor’s swing in Iowa begins at a Megachurch and ends Wednesday night at a racetrack in Cedar Rapids.

Introduced by Governor Kim Reynolds, DeSantis praised his Iowan counterpart — earlier this week in a Fox & Friends interview, he claimed that her policies are making Iowa the Florida of the Midwest.

DeSantis’ decision to start his campaign in a church is a nod to the importance of the evangelical voter base in the Republican Party.

Churchgoers are especially important in some deep red states like Iowa, which will help decide which candidate will clinch the nomination for president.

DeSantis officially announced his candidacy for president last week and kicks off his Great America Comeback Tour Tuesday with a 12-city swing through early primary contest states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Volunteers put up pro-DeSantis signs before he arrived in Florida

Voters around Des Moines told DailyMail.com this week that they want to see what DeSantis is “all about,” as he quickly emerged as the most formidable primary competitor against former President Trump.

But most Republicans in the early primary state have yet to make a final decision on whether to vote for DeSantis or Trump in 2024.

Whit, a driver from Des Moines, told DailyMail.com Monday night that he thinks if DeSantis gets the nomination, he could beat President Biden — he’s not sure Trump could do the same.

Julie, a 42-year-old mother of two who drinks coffee before work Tuesday morning, said she wants to “hear what he’s talking about” before deciding whether to vote for Trump or DeSantis in the Republican primary.

Several dinergoers shared with DailyMail.com their skepticism about choosing between Trump and DeSantis so early in the game, stating, “I voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, might switch to someone else if I like what he say.’

It was hard to convince anyone to say if they would absolutely vote for DeSantis in the primary race, and most said they don’t know enough about Florida’s governor to make up their minds yet.

But there are still some die-hard Trumpers in Des Moines who say they won’t let the former president down in his third bid for the White House.

“I love DeSantis, but I think he should have waited until 2028,” Jack, a retired Des Moines resident, told DailyMail.com.

After kicking off Des Moines at Eternity Church on Tuesday night, the governor and Florida’s first lady Casey DeSantis will head to four more Iowa cities to wrap up at a racetrack in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday.

Then the couple heads to New Hampshire for a four-city tour of the tiny state in the northeast, followed by another three-day one-day trip to South Carolina on Friday.

DeSantis then plans to head back to the start of the trip in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday for GOP Senator Joni Ernst’s Roast & Ride fundraiser.

“As military veterans, Joni and I both understand the importance of supporting those who have served our country — and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do just that at the annual Roast & Ride,” DeSantis said in a statement. about the additional stop.

“Over the past few months, Casey and I have had the pleasure of getting to know hard-working patriots in the great state of Iowa,” he added. “Florida and Iowa have led the fight for our way of life — and I am running for president to take that fight to the White House. Our mission is simple: We are building a movement to restore America.”

DeSantis clearly understands the importance of winning over Republican primary voters in Iowa if he wants to defeat Trump in 2024.

“We compete everywhere. Iowa is very important,” the governor told Fox & Friends on Monday. “We have received an incredible amount of support. I was endorsed by 37 legislators there before I even announced my candidacy.”

“Obviously we have a lot in common with Iowa in terms of what Florida has done and what they have done under Governor Kim Reynolds,” he added. And I think the tidal wave of support has been very, very strong. We’re going to put pressure on the case.’