Staff Reports
Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida didn’t hold back when responding to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s comments about him and former President Donald Trump. DeSantis, with a hearty laugh, dismissed McCarthy as a member of the “DC establishment” and criticized both him and Trump for contributing to the national debt during Trump’s time in office.
DeSantis took the opportunity to highlight an issue that has been causing division within the Republican party: government spending. He accused McCarthy and Trump of adding a staggering $7 trillion to the national debt in just four years, more than the country had accumulated in its first two centuries. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), DeSantis made it clear that he saw himself as different from Trump and McCarthy in this regard. He proudly touted Florida’s record of budget surpluses and debt reduction, emphasizing that he has kept every promise he made as governor.
Kevin McCarthy says I’m a little different from Donald Trump. I agree.
In Florida, we run budget surpluses. We’ve paid down our debt. I’ve kept every one of my promises.
Meanwhile, McCarthy and Trump worked together to add $7 trillion — more debt than our country racked up in… pic.twitter.com/TqZih4t8U8
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) September 18, 2023
While DeSantis has been considered a top contender for the 2024 Republican primary, his campaign has struggled to gain traction. Rather than closing the gap between him and Trump in the polls, the divide has only widened. McCarthy, in an interview, confidently stated that Trump will be the GOP nominee in 2024, citing the former president’s strength and his successful policies that put America first.
McCarthy’s position is complicated by a group of conservative Republicans who refuse to support a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown unless their demands regarding government spending are met. DeSantis has aligned himself closely with these hard-liners and has consistently emphasized their concerns about the national debt, aligning himself further to the right than Trump on certain issues like abortion.
As both DeSantis and McCarthy face pressure within their respective factions and see their 2024 hopes fading, they could both use a political victory, even if it means coming at the other’s expense.
