It’s no secret that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis isn’t afraid to voice his opinion on President Donald Trump. The GOP governor is becoming a vocal critic of the Commander-in-Chief, though he still maintains a strong conservative base in the state. In a recent move, DeSantis has ramped up his criticism of Trump and has been more direct in his verbal assaults.
While DeSantis remains a proponent of the GOP’s broader agenda, he has taken issue with certain decisions made by the White House and has refused to support the President without speaking his mind. For example, he publicly criticized Trump’s immigration policies and his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord, going as far as accusing the President of “having a disdain for science and facts.”
DeSantis’ surge in speaking out against Trump is a significant development for the party. Given the unpredictability of 2020 and the fact that the GOP has been largely divided in its support of the President, DeSantis’ actions are starting to make serious waves within the organization.
At the same time, DeSantis isn’t without his detractors. Despite the fact that a majority of Florida residents approve of the governor’s job performance, some Republican activists accuse him of undermining the President and weakening party morale. This rift between the party’s establishment and DeSantis’ isolationism could threaten the GOP’s chances of winning in Florida’s upcoming elections.
Advocates for DeSantis see this as an act of moral courage, ultimately believing that his open criticism of the President and dedication to speaking out against injustice should be rewarded by the party, rather than punished. However, it remains to be seen if the party as a whole can accept DeSantis’ approach to politics.
Ultimately, DeSantis’ decision to vocally criticize Trump is a risky bet, and only time will tell whether this move will eventually bring the GOP closer together in 2020 or push it even further apart.