Rivals of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' 2024 Republican presidential nomination targeted the populist presidential candidate after Tuesday's town hall event.
DeSantis joined Fox News for a town hall event in the Hawkeye State ahead of the famous Iowa caucuses, where the governor spoke about inflation and government accountability and took questions from the audience.
But after DeSantis spoke at a town hall with Fox News' Bret Baier and Martha McCollum, the Florida governor's Republican rivals weighed in on his performance.
Rival Republican campaign influences Haley's Fox News town hall performance: 'Reject her on caucus night'
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced plans to permanently eliminate Florida's COVID-19 mandates during the next legislative session. (Ron DeSantis, via Twitter)
Former President Trump's campaign unfolded during a town hall event where he attacked DeSantis' record on the COVID-19 pandemic, with one post claiming that the Florida governor had “the toughest coronavirus pandemic anywhere in the country.” We have issued countermeasure regulations.”
In another post, the Trump campaign said, “Ron DeSanctimonius praised Trump's coronavirus task force and said Fauci and Birx have done a good job.” I wrote this along with a clip of Mr. DeSantis at the time.
“Ron DeSantis and his allies set him up for a catastrophic failure,” the Trump campaign tweeted. “Everything he does is a giant space lawn that will be exposed in a matter of days.”
The Trump campaign also shared the following: CNN clip The campaign claimed it had “exposed” the governor as a “massive COVID-19 hypocrite.”
“MUST SEE: Mr. DeSantis exposed as a massive coronavirus hypocrite, repeatedly praising Mr. Fauci and his policies during the pandemic,” Trump wrote.
Former President Trump's campaign unfolded during a town hall event where he attacked DeSantis' record on the COVID-19 pandemic, with one post claiming that the Florida governor had “the toughest coronavirus pandemic anywhere in the country.” We have issued countermeasure regulations.” (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's campaign also berated DeSantis at the city council meeting, criticizing the governor's answers to questions ranging from inflation to the vote count for President Biden.
“Ron DeSantis on inflation: 'Washington created this,'” Haley's campaign tweeted on Tuesday. “Well, Ron, you were in Washington and voted to raise the debt limit.”
“Tonight, Iowa voters saw a desperately shaken Ron DeSantis trying to cover up his history of banning fracking and drilling in Florida and voting to raise the debt ceiling in Congress. .The more DeSantis loses, the more he lies,” Burns, a spokesperson for Anne-Marie Graham-Haley's campaign, told Fox News Digital after the town hall.
“Fun fact: Ron DeSantis has the worst record against Biden,” Haley's campaign wrote in another tweet. “lol.”
“Question from voters: Why is it so hard to win the support of conservatives?” another tweet from Haley's campaign read. “Ron DeSantis: Words” [salad emoji]. ”
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's campaign also berated DeSantis at the city council meeting, criticizing the governor's answers to questions ranging from inflation to the vote count for President Biden. (Catherine Gamble/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Asked for comment, the DeSantis campaign pointed to a tweet in which the governor criticized Haley and Trump and shared a clip of comments from a Fox News town hall.
“Donald Trump is running for his issues. Nikki Haley is running for her donors' issues,” DeSantis wrote.
“I'm running to help you, your families, and change this country,” he added.
DeSantis was the second Republican presidential candidate this week to hold a Fox News town hall ahead of next week's Iowa caucuses.
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The Florida governor is vying for the Republican nomination to challenge President Biden in November's White House election.
However, the nomination battle is not over yet. DeSantis will need to overcome Haley and Trump to win the Republican's coveted approval.
