California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) continues to criticize Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). In a new interview with MSNBC, Newsom calls DeSantis "weak."
In an interview with Jen Psaki for MSNBC, Governor Newsom was asked about Governor DeSantis as a prospective candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Given that President Donald Trump (R) has already announced that he will run, and given the rivalry that Trump has incited with DeSantis, Newsom suggested that DeSantis should not run in the upcoming election.
Commenting on the 2022 midterm election, Newsom said that DeSantis was exhibiting "weakness masquerading as strength."
Psaki asked Newsom to act as a "political pundit," and he was asked what DeSantis' political path should be and whether or not he should opt to not criticize Trump. Simply put, Newsom shared that DeSantis "is going to get rolled by Trump."
"Trump's just gonna roll him, thumped. Honestly, if I were offering him political advice I would tell him to pack up and wait a few years. And actually do some of the hard work, which actually includes governing not just identity and cultural war," Newsom added.
DeSantis has not announced that he will run, but his recent trajectory has led to speculation that he will be launching a presidential campaign. Similarly, Newsom has been on the same trajectory as he has embarked on his own tour across the country. While DeSantis travels to blue states to tout Florida's accomplishments, Newsom has traveled to red states to discuss how Republicans are destroying democracy.
Most recently, Newsom traveled to the New College of Florida to chide DeSantis over his conservative appointments to the Board of Trustees.
In the interview, Newsom also highlighted that DeSantis should focus on environmental concerns, saying that "this is a serious moment in American history, world history. I hope he would start to focus on some of those issues, that would be my advice. Come back as a more seasoned capable leader with a little humility. Which by the way, he could use a little of."
Trump has directed choice words to DeSantis, but DeSantis has steered clear from directing words at Trump. As well, Trump's Make America Great Again PAC has released an advertisements against DeSantis, suggesting he is a RINO.
