Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to go toe to toe with former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner.
“You know what, maybe we can say since the former president didn’t come here, maybe he’d be willing to do one with you and I,” DeSantis told Fox News’ Sean Hannity after the second GOP primary debate.
Hannity provoked the challenge from DeSantis by juxtaposing the crowded nature of the debate stage Wednesday evening with the forthcoming verbal bout between DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom in November.
Trump world did not seem amenable to DeSantis’ goading.
“Rob DeSanctimonious? The loser in 5th place in New Hampshire? His pathetic campaign is over. Good night, sweet prince,” senior Trump adviser Jason Miller told The Post.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung doubled-down on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Apparently Ron DeSantis challenged President Trump to a one-on-one debate. Sorry, Ron. We’re not as thirsty and desperate like you or sleazeball partner Gavin Newsom,” he tweeted.
“I think he owes it to our voters to come and make the case,” DeSantis argued. “Let’s do it right … one’s entitled to anything.”
Earlier in the debate, DeSantis took direct aim at Trump, lumping him together with President Biden, whom he deemed “missing in action.”
“You know who else is missing in action? Donald Trump. DC politicians are shutting down the American Dream with their reckless spending,” DeSantis reiterated on X, formerly Twitter.
Trump skipped the second GOP debate as he did with the first, pointing to his yawning lead in the polls.
The 77-year-old former president has a 42.2 point edge over DeSantis, his nearest rival in the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.
Instead, he delivered a speech in Detroit, near the epicenter of the United Auto Workers’ strike.
