The GOP civil war wages on with staffers for the rumored 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis (R-FL) being put on notice that their services are not wanted in the MAGA universe.
“It’s time for choosing,” a source told Real Clear Politics. “If you work for Ron DeSantis’ presidential race, you will not work for the Trump campaign or in the Trump White House.”
DeSantis has yet to announce his run but has been conducting what some see as a “shadow campaign” in the meantime.
DeSantis has been hesitant to criticize the man who helped propel him to the governorship of Florida, despite the MAGA base channeling Trump’s well-played insults at the man who is the most credible threat to Trump’s GOP dominance in the presidential race.
Even disgraced former Trump White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, weighed in.
“Whoever is advising him to exclude folks who support other Republicans in a primary doesn’t have a clue as to how to run a government,” Mulvaney said.
A noted conservative grassroots organizer added, “Even after the most effective Republican presidency, Trump is bringing back the loyalty test.”
Trump has been on the warpath.
As multiple investigations close in on his one-term presidency criming, the six-times bankrupt failed son has amped up the violence-inciting rhetoric and his perceived victimhood in an attempt to rile up his rabid base.
Unsurprisingly, DeSantis’ camp has been in dull mode.
Not wanting to completely alienate MAGA while attempting to at the same time play a shadow campaign game — Gov. DeSantis appears out of his league.
Ken Cuccinelli, Trump’s former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, laid down the gauntlet.
“I just don’t think, just knowing him that it’s a serious assumption,” the former Trump ally said. “This is just being done now to try to kill the momentum that DeSantis has.”
Momentum is an understatement, as the recently reelected Florida governor has spent more time traveling and waging a war on “woke” than actually serving the people of Florida who voted for him.
“I don’t know of any Republican voter that feels okay about what’s happening with President Trump,” a source said.
Original reporting by Phil Wegman at Real Clear Politics.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
