Even though President Donald Trump (R) did not attend the first Republican primary debate, his campaign still had much to say. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) was the butt of President Trump’s commentary. Before the 8 Republican candidates took to the stage to speak to the American people, the Trump campaign took a shot at “Lockdown Ron” in ads before debate night.
Back in 2022, when President Trump announced his intention to run for the White House, Governor DeSantis was already considered a close second in the race. The once friends turned political rivals sparked a feud at the culmination of the 2022 midterm election. Trump was campaigning against DeSantis, and since then, both candidates have traded words.
Heading into the debate, Governor DeSantis was the frontrunner, and the Trump campaign had much to say about it.
Releasing two advertisements taking shots at DeSantis, the first advertisement showed footage of both DeSantis and Trump on the campaign trail and with DeSantis praising Trump over his policies against terrorism and his support for the military. In other footage, DeSantis comments on the obstacles that Trump has faced, which includes a biased media.
In another advertisement, the Trump campaign takes aim at DeSantis over the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbing him “Lockdown Ron,” the advertisement argues that “Governor Ron DeSantis shut down Florida businesses during COVID.” Discussing how Florida’s economy declined as a result of DeSantis’ leadership, the ad goes on to claim that “he wants you to forget.”
Trump has been heavily critical of DeSantis while DeSantis has responded methodically while on the campaign trail. According to a leaked document that showed DeSantis’ debate prep, which showed that one of the things that DeSantis would do in the debate is to “defend Donald Trump in absentia in response to a Chris Christie attack.”
