![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/donald-trump-opens-new-rift-calling-2024-republican-rival-ron-desanctimonious/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TELEMMGLPICT000315261754_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf_4Xpit_DMGvdp2n7FDd82k.jpeg&description=Donald Trump opened a new rift in the Republican party on the eve of the midterm elections after he attacked his 2024 rival Ron DeSantis, nicknaming him "Ron DeSanctimonious". Mr Trump used a rally to highlight polls showing him well ahead of the Florida governor, and his former Vice President Mike Pence, in the race to be the next Republican presidential nominee. He said: "Trump at 71 percent. Ron DeSanctimonious at 10 per cent. Mike Pence at seven...Oh, Mike's doing better than I thought." The jibe at Mr DeSantis appeared to fire the starting gun on a potentially acrimonious Republican primary showdown as the party begins to look beyond Tuesday's midterms to the next presidential election cycle. It provoked an immediate pushback from Mr DeSantis' allies, who privately expressed disgust with Mr Trump. Several have reportedly told Mr DeSantis, 44, to move forward with an expected presidential bid. Mike Pompeo, the former US Secretary of State, came to Mr DeSantis' defence, saying the Florida governor had "proven conservative policies work". "Not tired of winning," Mr Pompeo added. 'Trump is not going to be able to take this one down with a dumb nickname,' said conservative commentator Matt Walsh. On Sunday night, the two powerful Republicans appeared to have declared battle with competing rallies scheduled in Florida. Mr Trump was due to hold a rally in Miami with Marco Rubio, who is running for re-election to the Senate. Mr DeSantis, who was not invited, planned duelling events hundreds of miles away in the Sunshine State. One Republican strategist described the snub to the Florida governor as "stupid". 'Why not try and avoid the appearance of the fight?' he said. At an event in Pennsylvania on Saturday night, Mr Trump vaunted his dominance over the Republican field as he campaigned for his party's Senate candidate, TV doctor Mehmet Oz. The race may determine which party controls the Senate. At one point, he showed a poll for the Republican presidential nomination){kind=link}
The jibe at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appeared to fire the starting gun on a potentially acrimonious GOP showdown
Donald Trump opened a new rift in the Republican party on the eve of the midterm elections after he attacked his 2024 rival Ron DeSantis, nicknaming him “Ron DeSanctimonious”.
Mr Trump used a rally to highlight polls showing him well ahead of the Florida governor, and his former Vice President Mike Pence, in the race to be the next Republican presidential nominee.
He said: “Trump at 71 percent. Ron DeSanctimonious at 10 per cent. Mike Pence at seven…Oh, Mike’s doing better than I thought.”
The jibe at Mr DeSantis appeared to fire the starting gun on a potentially acrimonious Republican primary showdown as the party begins to look beyond Tuesday’s midterms to the next presidential election cycle.