Donalds Encourages DeSantis to Debate Newsom

The long-running feud between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has just become a little more interesting. As we covered, Gov. DeSantis' relocation of 50 illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard earned strong criticism from Newsom. DeSantis shrugged it off saying Newsom's hair gel is "interfering with his brain function." In response, Newsom has challenged DeSantis to a debate.

Monday morning, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL-19) appeared on Fox News' Varney & Co. offering his take on this new point of contention. Donalds praises the idea, saying it would be better to hear differing policy philosophies directly from candidates and politicians rather than through the press.

"ICYMI: I joined @Varneyco to discuss the success of America's Governor, Ron DeSantis, versus the disastrous leadership of Governor@GavinNewsom. Watch the entire interview below," he tweeted, providing the segment.

After exchanging pleasantries, host Stuart Varney asks Donalds if he encourages a DeSantis-Newsom debate. "I always encourage debate," answers Donalds, "I think those two gentlemen sitting side-by-side, going through the issues of the day, would actually be very, very informative for the American people."

Donalds elaborates on his position, saying that hearing policies directly from politicians is more informative than hearing them through the news. "Because you would cut through the noise and the clutter that is media," taking a moment to jokingly say Varney doesn't count and is "excellent," instead referring to "Big Media." Continuing, he says that "you would get an opportunity to distill energy policy, policing policy, taxing policy, border policy. So many of the things that are affecting the American people."

"I think overall," he concludes this point, "we should get back to those Lincoln-Douglas debates instead of having reporters chime in all the time, have these people actually stand in front of the American people, these candidates, these politicians, and go into depth about their ideas and why they think that's the best thing for America."

The conversation then shifts to the midterms and the 2024 election. Varney asks if this proposed debate foretells a DeSantis vs Newsom Presidential Election in 2024. "No," says Donalds, jokingly adding that "but I think you could sell pay-per-view buys on that one, I think that might be good."