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Well, I’ll be. No sooner had I completed my last article, than this beauty came in over the transom: Donald Trump now claims he appointed Ron DeSantis as governor of Florida. No, really. Should we tell him?
As Trump would say: It’s true, it’s true — if you want to know the truth. That I can tell you.
In Trump’s latest delusional boast about being totally responsible for DeSantis’ political success, he told Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt: “I appointed him!” — as if he had appointed DeSantis to the “post” of Florida governor — in reference to DeSantis’ slim 2018 win over former governor Charlie Crist.
Here’s how that went (emphasis, mine):
Schmitt said:
Let me ask you this. I want to get back to domestic politics. I want to ask you about Ron DeSantis. He told Eric Bolling last night that he thinks the New York Alvin Bragg probe is a political stunt by George Soros. He also said he would not consider being your vice president in 2024. I want to ask, was that ever an option for you?
Trump answered:
No, I never thought of it. I think that we have a lot of great people in the Republican Party. I never thought of it, but you know, some people every once in a while mentioned it, but that’s about it. No, I think that would be a very unlikely alliance.
But, you know, look, I appointed him! He was failing badly in the polls. He was out of politics. He was going to be out of politics. And I endorsed him. And he went from a very small number to a very high number to beat the person who happened to be leading the secretary of agriculture.
His name was Adam Putnam. And he went out and he he beat him only because of my endorsement. Then I got him past, in the general election, somebody that was the star of the Democrats.
A licensed therapist would be better qualified to analyze and explain Trump’s “Me! Me! Me! Look What only I can do!” shtick, but it’s still sophomorically bizarre after seven years.
Incidentally, DeSantis didn’t ask for Trump’s endorsement in 2022, and Trump didn’t give it, but unlike the close race in 2018, DeSantis managed to “squeak by” in a 2022 rematch with Crist by nearly 20 points. [heavy sarc]
Additionally, Trump at least pretended he welcomes a primary challenge from DeSantis, although the claim doesn’t square Trump’s incessant circle of continuing attacks against the governor, given he’s not even announced a run. Nonetheless, Trump told Schmitt:
[T]hat’s OK, whatever he wants to do. But if you look at his record, he can’t win, because he voted against Social Security; he voted against everything. He voted against things that are so important. Medicare. He voted against Medicare. He wanted to raise the age substantially of people getting Social Security.
The things he’s voted against are devastating, because people don’t know this about Ron: Ron was a disciple of Paul Ryan. And Paul Ryan was a loser. You know that. He was a loser in many ways.
Trump’s claims were, of course, wrong. But here’s the musical question: If DeSantis “can’t win,” then why was he re-elected in a landslide, just four months ago?
Trump then went on to recycle some of his attacks against DeSantis, prompting Schmitt to close the segment by telling viewers:
Well, the infighting has begun. It’s kind of tough to watch, I think, for a lot of viewers, because I think a lot of people love you both and support you both.
Schmitt was right on all counts. No one can doubt the fierce loyalty of the Ever-Trumpers; the very people Trump bragged about in 2016 when he (hopefully jokingly) declared:
I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters.
In contrast, conservatives who long ago tired of Trump’s antics and self-created problems, as I observed in my earlier article, want to lose the baggage and look to the future, because wresting the White House from the Democrats in 2024 is not going to be nearly as easy as some on the R side believe — and Donald Trump is not the guy to get the job done.
The Bottom Line
While numerous followers would bet their house that “Miller hates Trump,” (yes, hyperbole), Miller doesn’t “hate” Trump — or anyone else. What Miller does do, as a conservative political pundit, is I advocate for a nominee with the best chance of kicking the Democrats the hell out of the White House in 2024.
That should be the paramount objective of every American voter who claims to be a true conservative.
Meanwhile, the band plays on.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com.
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