Ron DeSantis told Jesse Watters some extraordinary lies on Fox News Thursday night. This fact comes as no surprise as Paul Ryan has turned Fox News into a defacto DeSantis Super PAC.
Watters asked DeSantis about his disloyalty to Trump, and DeSantis responded with, “Disloyal to who? Politicians have to EARN support. They’re not entitled to support. I did a lot for him in 2016 and 2020 by the way.”
Receipts prove this is not the case. In 2016 DeSantis issued a statement, not an endorsement, after Trump secured the delegates to become the GOP’s 2016 nominee. DeSantis’ statement read, “In light of the exit from the race by Ted Cruz and John Kasich, it is now clear that Donald Trump will accumulate the delegates necessary to be nominated by the Republican Party.”
Roger Stone highlighted this, tweeting, “Congressman Ron DeSantis refused to endorse @realDonaldTrump even AFTER Trump was the nominee of the Republican Party for President in 2016. Add LIAR to the list of character flaws of the #FloridaFugazi #Ingrate”
FactCheck- This is a LIE – Congressman Ron DeSantis refused to endorse @realDonaldTrump even AFTER Trump was the nominee of the Republican Party for President in 2016 .Add LIAR to the list of character flaws of the #FloridaFugazi#Ingrate https://t.co/WQpRH8kRA9
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) June 30, 2023
It is a very well-known fact that DeSantis had little political clout in Florida before Trump endorsed him. With that in mind, it’s mathematically impossible that DeSantis had any meaningful impact in the 2016 election.
During the 2020 election, DeSantis did speak at Trump rallies, but people did not attend Trump rallies to see Ron DeSantis. They attended the rallies to see Donald Trump. Not to mention DeSantis and Pence had some pretty awkward moments on the 2020 campaign trail. If anything, DeSantis hurt Trump in 2020.
Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence will be at the same event in Iowa today. Iowa voters should prepare themselves for an awkward afternoon.
pic.twitter.com/JrC1PW2kQ6— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) June 3, 2023
When massive fraud was occurring in the 2020 election, Ron DeSantis was nowhere to be found. Instead, DeSantis was dining with Fox President Rupert Murdoch. During that December 2020 dinner, Murdoch told DeSantis he would back him in 2024.
These facts prove DeSantis has ridden Trump’s coattails to prominence while opposing MAGA every step of the way.