Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, is making a bold claim about former President Trump. According to DeSantis, Trump is no longer the candidate he was in 2016, and Iowans will likely choose someone else.
During a virtual press conference, DeSantis expressed his observations after watching snippets of Trump’s recent speeches in Iowa. He pointed out that Trump has lost his edge and is not the same charismatic figure he once was. “He’s lost the zip on his fastball,” DeSantis remarked.
The governor cited a few examples of what he considered to be “head-scratching” remarks from Trump. One such remark was when Trump referred to a recent school shooting as “just horrible, so surprising to see it here” before suggesting that people needed to “get over it” and move on. DeSantis found this statement insensitive and out of touch.
Another questionable statement from Trump that DeSantis mentioned was Trump’s suggestion that the Civil War could have been negotiated to avoid excessive bloodshed. DeSantis found it puzzling that Trump would propose such an idea, especially considering his inability to negotiate funding for a border wall when he had a Republican-controlled Congress.
DeSantis believes that Trump’s recent rhetoric will sway Iowa voters to choose a different candidate during the upcoming Iowa caucuses. He thinks that as Iowans witness the disparity between the Trump they knew in 2016 and the Trump they see now, more people will be open to exploring alternative options.
Despite DeSantis’ claims, Trump still maintains a strong lead in Iowa, according to The Hill/Decision Desk H.Q.’s polling average. He currently has 51.6 percent of the vote, followed by DeSantis at 18 percent and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley at 17.1 percent.
Whether DeSantis’ assessment of Trump will resonate with Iowa voters and lead to a change in their candidate preference remains to be seen. As the Iowa caucuses approach, the political landscape will evolve, and candidates will continue to strive for an advantage in a race that is predictable.
