President Donald Trump not too long ago issued his fourth official assertion about me since our controversial interview two months in the past.
(The one the place he didn’t like me telling him I don’t consider he had the 2020 election stolen from him)
“Piers opened STRONG with me,” Trump sneered about my new TV present Piers Morgan Uncensored, “then ‘died.’ He now solely attracts flies.”
It made me chuckle as a result of a) I’m nonetheless alive b) the present’s going nice (give it a attempt on Fox Nation) and c) Trump’s fierce loyalty to pals is simply matched by his comically obsessive trash-talking fury should you fall out with him.
However there was additionally an irony about his assertion.
On the danger of additional incurring his wrath, if anybody is drawing flies proper now, it’s Donald Trump.
The as soon as all-powerful GOP beast bestriding the American political world like a paw-crunching King Kong is now seeing his stranglehold over the get together ebb away quicker than the notorious gorilla tumbled to his demise from the Empire State Constructing after being shot by US Navy jets.
And the identical foe is proving to be the lethal weapon once more now, within the type of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a US Navy conflict hero who suggested SEAL Crew commanders in Iraq, and who nonetheless serves with the US Navy Reserve.
If you happen to have been scripting an ideal Republican presidential candidate, the checklist of most well-liked necessities would learn one thing like DeSantis’s resume.
He’s a person from humble beginnings, raised in Dunedin, Florida by working-class dad and mom (his father put in Nielsen TV rankings packing containers, his mom was a nurse.)
‘He was vivid… very, very attentive,’ Dee Centinaro, DeSantis’ first-grade instructor, advised the Miami Herald. ‘I knew he would do his work, I knew he would concentrate, and I knew I might belief him.’
He graduated with honors from each Yale and Harvard Legislation College.
He was captain of Yale’s baseball crew and had the very best batting common (.336). ‘He’s an amazing captain,’ teammate Kyle Cousin stated of DeSantis on the time. ‘He helps all people out. He’s a real chief on and off the sector.’
He was a navy officer who served at Guantanamo Bay, and in Iraq as authorized advisor to SEAL Crew One throughout the deadliest yr of the conflict in 2007, guaranteeing the missions have been legally carried out and captured detainees have been handled humanely.
DeSantis was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service, and his boss, Navy Capt. Dane Thorleifson, who commanded the SEAL Particular Operations Activity-Pressure-West in Fallujah, stated of him: ‘He was tremendous good, articulate, resourceful and a constructive a part of the workers. I relied on him closely.’
DeSantis then grew to become a federal prosecutor, serving as a Particular Assistant within the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace within the Center District of Florida.
Ronald Henry, who was DeSantis’ direct supervisor, described him as an ‘aggressive prosecutor who didn’t go mild.’
All of which provides as much as a stunningly spectacular set of ticks within the field for individuals who ought to run for president.
And that’s earlier than we get to his extremely profitable tenure as governor of Florida, the place, no matter you consider him, DeSantis has indisputably confirmed himself to be a daring, fearless, combative and decided chief, incomes him excessive approval rankings and the form of nationwide media consideration that potential presidents get.
That’s why Republican billionaires are lining as much as again him, enabling De Santis to construct up a staggering $124 million for his 2022 gubernatorial marketing campaign conflict chest — twice what he wanted to win in 2018 — and that’s why he’s now turn out to be Trump’s worst nightmare.
The 2 males have publicly supported one another for years, however I confidently predict this mutual admiration society is about to hit the buffers massive time.
For if there’s one factor Trump can’t abdomen greater than individuals who don’t purchase into his ‘rigged election’ bulls–t, it’s individuals who may threaten his probabilities of returning to the White Home in 2024.
And Ron DeSantis, 43, is that individual.
He isn’t simply 35 years youthful than Trump, he’s extra eloquent, targeted and arranged, going about his enterprise with military-style planning.
He’s additionally extra severe, which is an efficient factor, however as he confirmed together with his ‘I welcome help from African-Individuals’ quip after Elon Musk stated he was leaning in the direction of supporting him, he can do appeal and good humor when he must.
[DeSantis is] simply youthful, more energizing, and extra thrilling than the ageing, raging gorilla who’s turn out to be a whiny, Democracy-defying bore.
Piers Morgan
DeSantis could also be Trumpian on the subject of coverage, agreeing with him on most points, which can please the MAGA crowd, however he comes with out all of the January 6 baggage (he hasn’t stated the 2020 election was stolen) and wildly erratic and polarising character.
As liberal Invoice Maher put it: ‘You understand what Ron DeSantis gained’t be doing? He gained’t be poop-tweeting each day. It gained’t be, like, having feuds with Bette Midler on Twitter. He’s not an insane individual.’
He’s not.
Ron DeSantis is exhibiting himself to be a formidable and dynamic political operator, whether or not it’s taking up Disney over LGBT instructing in colleges, conserving Florida largely open throughout the covid pandemic — which was lambasted on the time, however the stats have more and more vindicated his controversial resolution with Florida’s loss of life fee decrease than states like New York that opted for harsh lockdowns — or waging conflict on the absurd however harmful woke cancel tradition.
He’s additionally a loyal household man with three younger kids whose spouse Casey confirmed her personal preventing spirit by beating breast most cancers.
So, by nearly any political metric you select, this man’s a much better choice for main the Republicans into the 2024 election than Donald Trump, and lots of get together activists agree which is why he’s come forward of Trump as most well-liked candidate in latest polls of Republican voters in Colorado and Wisconsin.
He’s simply youthful, more energizing, and extra thrilling than the ageing, raging gorilla who’s turn out to be a whiny, Democracy-defying bore.
And if DeSantis does win the nomination, I feel he’ll destroy beleaguered Joe Biden – or another Democrat, for that matter — to win the presidency.
However don’t take my phrase for his credentials, take Trump’s.
In 2017, when he was President and DeSantis was operating for Governor, he tweeted: ‘Ron DeSantis is a superb younger chief, Yale after which Harvard Legislation, who would make a GREAT Governor of Florida. He loves our Nation and is a real FIGHTER!’
He’s, as Trump’s about to search out out.
The sport’s up for The Donald, who opened his political profession STRONG however who’s now “died.”
It’s time Republicans put their religion in The Ronald.
