Skip to main content
Opinion

Let the DeSantis vs. Trump games begin

Dr. Rashad Richey National TV Political Analyst, Talk Radio Host, Univ. Prof.
Share

Ever since Donald Trump announced he’s running for president in 2024 and his hand-picked candidates mostly bombed in the midterm elections, there’s been a lot of focus on the man many perceive to be his biggest threat: Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor beat his Democratic opponent by 19 points, winning a whopping 58% of the Latino vote and becoming the first Republican governor in 20 years to flip the predominantly Hispanic Miami-Dade County. While Straight Arrow News contributor Rashad Richey thinks the Trump-DeSantis matchup will be interesting, he wonders if anyone really wins this campaign season if the battle is over power, not policy.

DeSantis has now spoken out. He has broken his silence. He has said something to the insult of Donald Trump. 

So he was questioned about his feelings in reference to Trump’s rhetoric against him. He said in part, and I quote, One of the things I’ve learned, like learned in this job is when you’re doing, when you’re leading, when you’re getting things done, yeah, you take incoming fire.” 

Okay. That’s what he said. He also touted his victories in the state of Florida.

Now, I will tell you this, while the rest of the country did not have a red wave, Florida kind of did. And DeSantis has taken credit for it. 

So Donald Trump, no red wave. DeSantis, kind of a red wave in his own state. This is going to be an interesting dynamic, but here’s the reality. Who’s the real winner? Who’s the real loser? 

Well, the real winners will likely be those who are major contributors and their interest will be served no matter who gets elected. The losers, us, you and I, regardless of our political background or ideology, they’re not fighting a policy agenda, they’re fighting the power agenda. 

This is not about what policies work best. This is about what power structure works best. What are your thoughts?

Okay, let the games begin. Who are we going to beat? Donald Trump? Or Governor Ron DeSatan? I mean, Ron DeSantis, okay, Ron DeSantis. Or as Trump is now saying, Ron De-sanctimonious, which, by the way, did not get, let’s say, a round of applause from his normative crowd. 

Who will be the number one contender? Obviously, according to polling data, Governor DeSantis out of the state of Florida. He has started attacking DeSantis. Trump has started saying, you know, slick, sly things. This is Trump’s way. He doesn’t go after individuals who pose no threat. He goes after those who do. 

Remember when he ran the first time, he systematically, individually, went after whoever was the front runner at that time? And when he went after that person, another front runner, or high competitor, would emerge in the Republican primary, he would go after them. Okay? He’s not a complex individual. But the party has to make a decision. I’m talking about the Republican Party. What do you want to be defined as? Because unfortunately, you have allowed your entire political platform, your holistic political movement, to be degraded into the personality of one man rather than the policy or a policy-aligned agenda. 

You did that. You allowed that to happen. That’s your fault. Finally, DeSantis has now spoken out. He has broken his silence. He has said something to the insult of Donald Trump. 

So he was questioned about his feelings in reference to Trump’s rhetoric against him. He said in part, and I quote, One of the things I’ve learned, like learned in this job is when you’re doing, when you’re leading, when you’re getting things done, yeah, you take incoming fire.” 

Okay. That’s what he said. He also touted his victories in the state of Florida. Now, I will tell you this, while the rest of the country did not have a red wave, Florida kind of did. And DeSantis has taken credit for it. 

So Donald Trump, no red wave. DeSantis, kind of a red wave in his own state. This is going to be an interesting dynamic, but here’s the reality. Who’s the real winner? Who’s the real loser? 

Well, the real winners will likely be those who are major contributors and their interest will be served no matter who gets elected. The losers, us, you and I, regardless of our political background or ideology, they’re not fighting a policy agenda, they’re fighting the power agenda. 

This is not about what policies work best. This is about what power structure works best. What are your thoughts?

More from Dr. Rashad Richey