Sunday, Lara Trump cautioned Florida Governor Ron DeSantis against challenging her father-in-law, former President Donald Trump, in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
Trump told Sky News Australia, ‘I think he’s smart enough to recognize that it would be nice to have the support of the entire party, the “America First” movement, or whatever you want to call it, entirely behind him in 2028, than perhaps fragmenting it in 2024.’ I can assure you that these primaries are extremely untidy and unrefined.
Lara Trump was asked about a prospective DeSantis-Trump matchup as the former president appears prepared to announce a 2024 run from his Mar-a-Lago club on Tuesday, while other Republicans and their media friends see DeSantis as the future head of the Republican Party.
Sunday, Lara Trump cautioned Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis against running against her father-in-law, former President Donald Trump, in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, stating that the contest may “become very nasty and very emotional.”
During a Sunday appearance on Sky News Australia, Lara Trump was asked about a 2024 fight between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) and her father-in-law, former President Donald Trump (right).
DeSantis has not declared whether he will run for president in 2024.
In last week’s election, DeSantis comfortably defeated Democrat Charlie Crist by 19 points, securing himself a second term while other Republican candidates struggled.
CNN was told last week by sources in Florida that the Florida governor will likely wait until after the annual legislative session of state lawmakers, which would not occur until May or June of next year.
Lara Trump surmised, “He is most likely waiting to watch what my father-in-law does.”
I believe that Ron DeSantis is incredibly intelligent. He’s a young guy. He is aware that he will have plenty opportunities in the future to run for president,’ she said.
She reasoned, “So, wouldn’t it be better for him – and I believe he knows this – to wait until 2028?”
Trump has already given the governor the nickname “Ron DeSanctimonious,” which he has used at multiple pre-election rallies, and he criticized DeSantis this week on Truth Social, labeling him “desperate” for an endorsement in 2017.
Trump also asserted that DeSantis lacked ‘loyalty and class’ for keeping the door open for a presidential candidacy in 2024.
In the aftermath of last week’s midterm elections, when Democrats retained their Senate majority and Republicans appeared to have a razor-thin House majority, fingers were aimed at Trump.
Lara Trump expressed confidence that Republicans will rally around her father-in-law, just as they did when he won the 2016 Republican primary.
She stated, “I believe the party would support him, and I believe they know the majority of the American people support him.” She added, “I believe we are poised for something very large and exciting.”
If Trump follows through with his statement on Tuesday, it will be unusually early for a presidential contender to do so.
Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, was the first candidate to enter the 2020 race, announcing an exploratory committee on New Year’s Eve as 2018 transitioned into 2019.
Joe Biden did not enter the race until April of 2019.
When asked about the former president’s Tuesday plans, Lara Trump stated, “I hope it’s a very historic event.”
She added, ‘If indeed he decides to run again, then that will be announced on Tuesday.’
Lara Trump, who is married to Eric Trump, the president’s middle son, described being at Trump Tower in June 2015 when Trump went down the escalator and declared his successful bid.
She remarked, “I didn’t realize in that moment how historic it would be and how significant it would be in my life individually, as well as for the entire country and the world.”
She continued, ‘Therefore, if you’re in South Florida on Tuesday and have the opportunity to visit Mar-a-Lago, I think you won’t be disappointed.’