WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis drew a stark contrast between himself and Donald Trump after the former president recently insinuated that he would benefit from the economic downturn.
Without mentioning Trump by name, DeSantis insisted he wants the country’s economy to grow even as the former president contemplates financial failure.
“I don’t want the economy to collapse because people’s livelihoods depend on it,” DeSantis told reporters Tuesday when asked about Trump’s remarks during a brief quip after his Fox News town hall.
“If the economy collapses, people will be thrown out of work, businesses will fall. I don’t want to see that happen. I want people to do well. That’s what we’ve done in Florida.”
Trump reflected on what a faltering economy could do for him politically in an interview that aired Monday.
Ron DeSantis broke with Trump on Tuesday, saying he wants the economy to grow. Getty Images
“When there’s an accident, I hope it happens within the next 12 months because I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover. The only president — I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover,” Trump told Lindell TV.
President Biden has sought to capitalize on his economic record and touted so-called “Bidenomics” at campaign events, highlighting low unemployment and falling inflation.
Republicans, including Trump and DeSantis, have highlighted his record and blamed Biden for the rampant inflation that hit the middle class early in the Biden administration.
During the press briefing, DeSantis also touched on some of the issues that came up during his town hall with Iowa voters.
Donald Trump says he wants a crash to happen within the next 12 months. AP
He downplayed concerns about alienating potential voters who agree with Trump, suggesting the 45th president has too much to carry to win the general.
“Keep in mind the midterm results in 2022. We have the best situation as a Republican for a midterm, probably in my lifetime,” DeSantis said.
“There are a lot of people who want to vote Republican. But I think there are a lot of things that won’t do the Trump thing,” he continued.
When asked if he supported expanded access to contraceptives, DeSantis explained that he would make them available without a prescription.
DeSantis said he will provide over-the-counter contraceptives. AP
“We think it should be done over the counter. I don’t think you need to get a prescription. And in Florida – the Florida Department of Health, we do contraception for about over 100,000 people a year,” DeSantis answered.
He is set to talk with former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley during a CNN debate on Wednesday.
During the presser, DeSantis tore through his closing message that he was the most electable presidential candidate.
“You don’t win as a Republican when you don’t stand for anything. You need to have a core belief,” he stressed. “He ran for re-election in one of the reddest states in the country, South Carolina in 2014 in a big Republican year.”
Trump spoke to the media at a hotel in Washington on Tuesday. AP
“He’s underperformed almost every Republican in the polls like Tim Scott — so significantly,” he continued, juxtaposing his re-election in Florida in the 2022 cycle.
DeSantis was flanked by Bob Vander Plaats, a prominent Iowa Christian evangelical leader, and Rep. Chip Roy (R-Tx.), both of whom supported it.
The start of the 2024 Iowa Republican caucus is scheduled for next Monday.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
