A spokeswoman for MAGA Inc., Mr. Trump’s super PAC, Karoline Leavitt, said on Saturday in a statement posted online that “DeSantis must immediately apologize for his disgraceful insult.”Asked about the remarks during an appearance on Fox News on Monday afternoon, Mr. DeSantis said he was referring to members of Congress who had called him a “RINO,” or “Republican in Name Only.”“The people in Congress that I was referring to, that have attacked me and tried to say somehow that I was a RINO, they’re putting entertainment and personality over principle,” he said.
“Our voters want us to stand on principle and fight for them.”Mr. DeSantis, who remains in a distant second place to Mr. Trump, has in recent weeks faced a series of campaign woes that included significant campaign staff cuts, stagnant polls and a leaked debate strategy memo.
He has received frequent criticism from Mr. Trump and will most likely be the target of further attacks by others at the Republican National Committee debate Wednesday as the leading candidate onstage in Mr. Trump’s absence.
“Looks like Ron DeSanctimonious just had his ‘Basket of Deplorables’ moment.
Not good!” Jason Miller, an adviser to the Trump campaign, said Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Persons:
Karoline Leavitt, DeSantis, ”, “, Mr, Trump, Ron DeSanctimonious, Jason Miller
Organizations:
MAGA Inc, Trump’s, Fox News, Republican, Twitter
Locations:
Congress