Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) is preparing to give a rare mainstream media interview to CNN’s Jake Tapper next Tuesday, as the second place Republican presidential candidate looks to attract new supporters after reportedly slashing roughly a dozen staffers from his fledgling campaign.
DeSantis’s interview will come at the tail-end a policy rollout in South Carolina, as his campaign tests the waters at the cable giant that has had a somewhat acrimonious relationship with conservatives.
“There are people within the media who are still seeking the truth; we will engage with them. And we look forward to getting our the message out there to the American people,” Bryan Griffin, a spokesperson for the DeSantis campaign told The Post.
Tapper has interviewed DeSantis in the past and has not shied away from grilling politicians. Former President Donald Trump hasn’t had a sit-down with Tapper in years, following controversial remarks he made about the KKK in a 2016 interview.
Since launching his campaign back in May, DeSantis has done a slew of interviews with conservative-friendly media and local outlets in early states.
Critics such as conservative host Megyn Kelly have chided him for not engaging with more adversarial media outlets that are more likely to pepper him with hard-hitting questions.
The DeSantis team insists its not shifting its media strategy and always planned on having the governor interact with a wide range of outlets, including ones that are more adversarial.
But first, it wanted to focus hard on fundraising before expanding his media portfolio. The DeSantis campaign recently touted a whooping $20 million fix six week campaign haul.
“The corporate media has gotten a lot wrong, and many outlets have an agenda. Therefore, we don’t consider them entitled to time or access,” Griffin said.
“Nonetheless there are many good journalists and truth-seeking reporters, including in mainstream media outlets, and we will work with them on our terms. That’s always been the plan.”
DeSantis has answered questions from some reporters outside the conservative world during his campaign, including NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez.
Meanwhile, CNN’s recently ousted ex-boss Chris Licht sought to have the network mend fences with some prominent Republicans by toning down partisan undertones in its coverage.
The network has begun hosting town halls with 2024 Republican hopefuls, including Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, and others.
For now, the DeSantis team has refrained from hopping on the CNN town hall bandwagon.
“We don’t do anything just because everybody else does it. But we’re open to a wide range of media options, and if the relationship can get to a point where we feel like it would be worth our time, we’ll do it,” Griffin added.
DeSantis currently trails Trump by an average of 32% among GOP primary voters, per the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.
