Not so fast. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) may have exited the 2024 presidential race but he served up a stark reminder Monday that he’s still the boss in the Sunshine State.
Politico reported that “some” Florida Republicans wanted to use taxpayer money to assist Donald Trump financially with his mounting legal fees as the former president battles multiple court challenges at the hands of Democrat prosecutors.
But DeSantis squashed their dream without hesitation, responding to a tweet from the political outlet: “But not the Florida Republican who wields the veto pen…”
But not the Florida Republican who wields the veto pen… https://t.co/kkc2yyqVK0
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 23, 2024
Politico had reported: “State Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Miami Republican who endorsed Trump’s reelection, has filed a bill for this year’s legislative session that could allow the state to hand out up to $5 million to the embattled Republican front-runner for president. The legislation has already won the endorsement from Jimmy Patronis, the state’s Republican chief financial officer, who for months has been publicly calling for taxpayers to pay to defend Trump from criminal charges.”
After DeSantis put his boot down, lifts or not, showing he’s still a force to be reckoned with for another two years, Garcia beat a hasty retreat.
“This bill was filed on January 5th amidst a crowded primary, including two Florida residents,” Garcia responded to DeSantis. “My concern was the political weaponization against conservative candidates, and while @JimmyPatronis brought me this bill at a time when all candidates were committing to campaign through the primary, one frontrunner now remains, and he can handle himself. I will be withdrawing the bill.”
For good measure, the Trump supporter blocked replies to her tweet.
Fellow Trump supporters who spent the primary attacking DeSantis in all sorts of vile manner took a break from calling for unity to attack DeSantis some more… in all sorts of vile manner:
Big Ron couldn’t keep unity for 1 full day
Once a Meatball, always a Meatball
— Jack Poso (@JackPosobiec) January 23, 2024
Scumbag
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) January 23, 2024
Ron DeSantis cherry picked an article to make a veiled swipe at Trump, but this is something Trump didn’t ask for. So much for Unity.
Backstabber.
— Joseph Pino (@JosephPino_) January 23, 2024
Very on brand for the Governor of the state with the highest number of J6 defendants and a President whose home was raided by the FBI.
Fuck you, @RonDeSantis.
We don’t want you. https://t.co/b7TBZGnZE1
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 23, 2024
On the other hand, Floridians not eager to be on the hook for a politician’s legal bills were quick to thank Gov. DeSantis.
Here’s a quick sampling of some of those responses, as seen on X:
For the win. https://t.co/ulOT2Qvx1L
— Frog Capital (@FrogNews) January 23, 2024
Bam.
— Mayor of DeSantisville (@DeSantisville) January 23, 2024
Thank you @RonDeSantis for making it very clear that you will veto this! As a Florida taxpayer, I refuse to foot a politician’s legal bills. Trump can go ask his supporters for money.
— Dr. Maria Peiro (@MariaPeiro305) January 23, 2024
1) This bill is absurd. One thing to steal money from donors to pay legal bills, but demanding that taxpayers fund it is criminal.
2) Have gotten over a dozen messages in 10 min all celebrating this tweet as the real RD finally unleashed and being himself post-campaign. https://t.co/wkl5MJj32r
— AG (@AGHamilton29) January 23, 2024
We’re back https://t.co/vEih8vgUua pic.twitter.com/ZLqThmmVld
— Pedro L. Gonzalez (@emeriticus) January 23, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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