Ron DeSantis has claimed he will be the real ‘America first’ president and warned that Donald Trump would be a ‘lame duck on day one’ if he wins the White House.
Florida governor, 45, boasted during an interview that he could serve two terms as president, unlike Trump ABC news on Wednesday.
DeSantis insisted he did better than his counterpart in his most recent race and that he has a “much better chance of actually getting results” if elected.
He blasted the former president for not attending the Republican primary debate, saying he “owes it to the people to be there.”
The politician also reiterated his threat to use lethal force against cartels smuggling drugs across the chaotic border.
Ron DeSantis claimed he will be the real ‘America first’ president and warned Donald Trump will be a ‘lame duck on day one’ if he wins the White House
The 45-year-old Florida governor boasted during an interview with ABC News on Wednesday that he could serve two terms as president, unlike Trump (pictured at a rally in Iowa).
The politician also reiterated his threat to use lethal force against cartels smuggling drugs across the chaotic border
DeSantis was asked to distinguish himself from Trump and he first pointed to their different upbringings.
“I’m a working-class kid who had to work minimum-wage jobs to get where I was,” he said.
“I could serve two terms. On day one he would be a lame duck. I ran Florida 16 points better than him in my most recent race than he did in his most recent race.
“I’ve also implemented this America-first policy more than I think anyone else in the country, and I would have a much better chance of actually accomplishing all of this as president.
“So I think there’s a lot of things for people to look at, but I’ll be there.”
Former President Trump is expected to be absent from next week’s Republican primary debate in California after skipping the first in Milwaukee in favor of an interview with Tucker Carlson.
But DeSantis criticized his rival for not showing up. “Well, first of all, he owes it to the people to be there. “He owes it to people to make the case and defend his record,” he said.
“You can’t just not show up to these things.”
Florida’s governor has advocated shooting cartel members trying to smuggle drugs across the border, but this is being rejected over concerns of the large number of other migrants trying to cross.
DeSantis insisted he did better than his counterpart in his most recent race and that he has a “much better chance of actually delivering on the policies” if elected
He blasted former President Trump for not attending the Republican primary debate, saying he “owes it to the people to be there.”
Florida’s governor has advocated shooting cartel members trying to smuggle drugs across the border, but this is being rejected over concerns of the large number of other migrants trying to cross.
But DeSantis claimed that U.S. troops could tell the difference between a drug smuggler and an ordinary migrant.
“Just like you would tell something,” he said.
‘For example, I previously served in Iraq. Al-Qaeda did not wear uniforms. You know, the typical Arab man would dress the man.
‘You didn’t know if there was a bomb attached to it or not. They carry the AK-47s around, normal civilians would do that, so you couldn’t even tell if they had done that.
“So you had to make a decision: Can you positively identify someone as hostile through hostile action or hostile intent?
‘And then you do it, just like anyone else would do, even in the United States. So that’s what you’re going to do, we’re going to gather intelligence.”
He was asked if a military presence on the border would be a “recipe for chaos” and he replied: “Right now it is a recipe for chaos. What’s happening in this country is a problem.’
DeSantis also downplayed the role of wealthy donors in his campaign after Citadel CEO Ken Griffin said he would not attend the 2024 presidential election.
“I am a leader, I am not a follower,” he said. “So we lead and do what we think is right, and people may or may not support us financially.
“But you shouldn’t be guided by trying to please very wealthy donors, and I have never acted that way.”
The second Republican primary debate will take place on September 27 at 9:00 PM at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.
DeSantis will try to win over primary voters and win the election Republican Party’s 2024 presidential nomination.