Florida: Ron DeSantis Slams Donald Trump's Smear Campaign

As the verbal battle between the two likely front-runners in the Republican primary for 2024 heats up, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has responded to Donald Trump's increasingly harsh attacks.

"I spend my time delivering results for the people of Florida and fighting against Joe Biden. That's how I spend my time," DeSantis said at a press conference Wednesday in response to a question about Trump's ramped-up attacks. "I don't spend my time trying to smear other Republicans."

Some polls see the Florida governor beating Trump in a Republican primary matchup in 2024, and DeSantis's entry into the campaign is all but certain, Bloomberg reports.

Trump has resorted to calling the governor "Ron DeSanctimonious" and has launched various attacks, including the claim that "the real Ron is a RINO GLOBALIST," which means he is a Republican in Name Only.

Earlier last week, Trump posted an attack on his personal social media network, suggesting that DeSantis had engaged in sexual grooming.

Donald Trump's Attack on Ron DeSantis

Trump shared a photo on the social networking app Truth Social on Tuesday showing a younger DeSantis smiling among three ladies whose faces were covered.

"That's not Ron, is it? He would never do such a thing!" Trump sarcastically wrote on the post.

It is Trump's most recent political hit against DeSantis, per WPTV.

Trump delivered a lengthy statement shortly after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's November 2018 general election victory over Democrat Charlie Crist. He criticized DeSantis as an "average" governor and took credit for improving the Republican's standing.

"Ron DeSanctimonious is playing games!" Trump added that DeSantis said he is only focused on the governor's race and not looking into the future.

"Well, in terms of loyalty and class, that's really not the right answer," Trump concluded.

While Republican Donald Trump has already declared his candidacy for president in 2024, Florida governor Ron DeSantis has yet to do so, despite widespread expectations that he will run.

Donald Trump Claims Ron DeSantis 'Begged' Him for 2018 Endorsement

According to Donald Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis won in 2018 but had to beg for an endorsement with teary eyes, The Independent noted.

DeSantis is expected to launch his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, following his landslide reelection victory over Charlie Crist.

Trump, DeSantis' former ally, is the only declared Republican candidate for the presidential run and has taken credit for DeSantis' electoral successes in the past.

In an interview with "The Hugh Hewitt Show" on Thursday, Trump said that DeSantis was behind in the polls in the 2018 GOP primary before Trump endorsed him.

"He was dead. He was leaving the race ... and he begged me for an endorsement," he said. He later added that the Florida gubernatorial candidate had "tears coming down from his eyes,"

Former Florida agricultural commissioner Adam Putnam, DeSantis' opponent in the 2018 primary for governor of Florida, had a "huge lead," said Trump. However, surveys taken around the time showed that Ron DeSantis was ahead.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Ron DeSantis appears to make stab at Donald Trump over re election during speech - Form The Independent