Trump appears to mock DeSantis, calling him Ron ‘DeSanctimonious’ at PA rally

Former president Donald Trump gave Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is most likely to be Trump’s biggest competition for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, a nickname this weekend, calling DeSantis “Ron DeSanctimonious” at a rally in Pennsylvania.

Just two days ahead of the midterm elections, Trump and DeSantis have both rallied for GOP candidates they endorsed, but have not spoken highly of each other.

While DeSantis has remained largely silent on a potential face-off with the former POTUS for 2024, Trump has repeatedly mocked DeSantis in recent weeks, poking at the GOP governor by reposting videos of DeSantis being spoken about negatively.

For his part, DeSantis declined to attend the rally Trump is holding for Senator Marco Rubio this weekend, two days before election day.

Neither Trump nor DeSantis have formally announced a 2024 run, but some Trump associates have hinted at a “November surprise” from the former president. 

Looking up at a screen in front of the rally crowd, Trump rattled off numbers to the audience indicating GOP support for the 2024 presidential nomination. “There it is, Trump at 71,” Trump said. “Ron De-Sanctimonious at 10 percent. Mike Pence at 7; oh, Mike Pence [is] doing better than I thought.”

Trump’s relationship with DeSantis became more strained after DeSantis publicly endorsed a critic of Trump’s, Colorado Senate candidate Joe O’Dea last month. Trump called the move a “big mistake,” and has since ramped up his provocation of DeSantis. 

Rumors surfaced this weekend that Trump had to be talked out of announcing his 2024 run at last week’s rally for Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz and GOP candidate for Governor, Doug Mastriano.