Trump, Who Announced Presidential Run... Targets Internal Rivals "Will Get Seriously Hurt"

Former President Donald Trump is giving a media interview with his wife Melania Trump after voting in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by AP)

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Former President Donald Trump, who is expected to announce his bid for the presidency again on the 15th, has sharply targeted Ron DeSantis, the Governor of Florida, who is mentioned as a potential presidential candidate. It appears that he is strengthening his offensive against DeSantis for two consecutive days around the midterm elections to rally his support base.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 8th (local time), after casting his vote at a polling station in Palm Beach, former President Trump told reporters, "I don't know if (DeSantis) will run in the 2024 presidential election," adding, "If he runs, he could get hurt badly." In an interview with Fox News after delivering a speech in Ohio the day before the midterm elections, Trump warned that if he faces DeSantis in the Republican primary, he would willingly share inappropriate information related to him.

DeSantis, a staunch conservative governor, is considered a leading presidential contender within the Republican Party. He is running for re-election as governor in the midterm elections and is expected to compete against former President Trump in the 2024 presidential race. WSJ reported that while Trump remains a giant in the Republican Party, DeSantis has been chosen by major Republican political donors. Earlier, Ken Griffin, CEO of the hedge fund Citadel, expressed support for Governor DeSantis on the 6th, two days before the midterm elections.

Griffin stated, "The Republican Party needs to move away from former President Donald Trump and find a new leader," adding, "If DeSantis runs for president, I will actively support him." He also donated $5 million (approximately 700 million KRW) in political funds to DeSantis. Politico, a U.S. political media outlet, explained that this $5 million is the largest single donation DeSantis has received.

Close aides to Governor DeSantis have said that he is seriously considering running for president. WSJ reported that during his tenure as governor, DeSantis received cheers from Republican supporters for conservative policies such as opposing vaccine and mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier, former President Trump also made disparaging remarks about DeSantis during a midterm election campaign rally in Pennsylvania last weekend.

Reading the poll support rates for the next Republican presidential candidate, he claimed that he holds an overwhelming lead with 71%, while DeSantis has 10%. He mocked Governor DeSantis by twisting his name to "Ron DeSanctimonious," calling him a "pretentious hypocrite."

Since losing to President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, former President Trump has consistently indicated his intention to run again in 2024. With forecasts suggesting that the Republican Party could become the majority in both the House and Senate in this midterm election, he is expected to advance his presidential bid announcement. Foreign media predict that the results of this midterm election will directly impact Trump's challenge for re-election.

On the 7th, one day before the midterm elections, at his final rally held in Ohio, former President Trump announced, "I will make a major announcement on the 15th at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida," signaling his intention to declare his presidential candidacy.