Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump once were each other's rivals battling for Republican presidential candidacy. But now that Trump has clinched the title, it appears DeSantis is focusing his fierce criticism on the pair's mutual rival: President Joe Biden.
While speaking at the Republican National Convention Tuesday, DeSantis publicly supported his once-competitor Trump for the first time, but the bulk of his words were centered on the leading Democrat and his party's policies.
"Let's send Joe Biden back to his basement, and let's send Donald Trump back to the White House," DeSantis said. "We need a commander-in-chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week. America cannot afford four more years of a 'Weekend at Bernie's' presidency."
DeSantis called President Biden a "figurehead" in the Democratic Party shortly after referencing the 1989 comedy, which centers on a group of friends pretending their friend is still alive. He then asserted that Trump can beat the incumbent and his "leftist agenda."
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"Donald Trump stands in their way, and he stands up for America," DeSantis said. "Donald Trump has been demonized. He's been sued. He's been prosecuted. And he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down and we cannot let America down."
DeSantis was once seen as Trump's greatest opponent for the Republican presidential nomination, but two days before the New Hampshire primary in January, the Florida governor announced he was dropping out of the race.
Still, DeSantis is seen as a champion for conservative Americans who cheered when he discussed school policies — like the book bans he's largely been behind — and banning abortion during his RNC speech.
He also spoke of how his state became "firmly Republican" under "bold leadership" — a point he framed his campaign around — and said under a Trump presidency, the rest of the country can see similar changes.
"Let's make the 45th president of the United States the 47th president of the United States," DeSantis said. "Let's elect Republicans up and down the ballot and let's heed the call of our party's nominee to fight, fight, fight for these United States."
