Challenging Trump

ByShahmir Kazi

works in the private sector with interest in socio-political affairs

Dated

September 16, 2022

Challenging Trump

Shahmeer Kazi describes an emerging Challenging Trump

Challenging Trump appeared to have left a towel on the presidential seat to keep it warm and till recently the polls made it clear that Donald Trump was the favourite among Republicans to be nominated for President of the United States in 2024. Trumpian charisma was noted to be more than just skin-deep and it was widely believed that his candidature will not be challenged and that would sail to the Republican Party nomination. However, the word is now spreading that DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida is rated to be more popular than Donald Trump. It is now conjectured that Ron DeSantis has gained ground and may rival Trump in his bid for the presidency and a latest poll has found 39% supported DeSantis, with 37% backing Trump.

The fast-changing public perception prompted many to wonder who the Republican governor of Florida is and why his profile continues to rise among the country’s conservative voters. Ron DeSantis has yet to confirm his interest in running for president in 2024 and at just 43 years old, time is on his side. Nonetheless, both insiders and outsiders alike say that it seems clear that the Governor of Florida is laying the groundwork to run for president. It is also observed that DeSantis has been very carefully building out a presidential campaign for 2024 to primary Donald Trump. It is commented that DeSantis is raising money, building relationships, going out there and quietly whispering that Trump is crazy but I am not.

Ron DeSantis was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1978 into a middle-class family. His mother worked as a nurse and his father installed Nielsen TV rating boxes. DeSantis had a typical childhood and did well in his Catholic school and at sports. In fact, in the early 90s, DeSantis’ baseball team qualified for the Little World Series and the youngster competed against teams worldwide. Ron went on to study history at Yale University and also was the captain of the prestigious school’s baseball team. He then taught history at a Georgia high school and eventually began to study law at Harvard Law. For generations, this school has produced presidents, prosecutors, and Supreme Court justices. He graduated cum laude. During his years at Harvard, Ron DeSantis began to make a name for himself in the Federalist Society, an influential network of conservative lawyers.

Though he did not develop a great interest in politics during those years, he did stand out for his commitment to his principles and ideals. With his impressive credentials, DeSantis probably could have worked at some of the best law firms in the country. However, he chose to join the military, which sets him apart from Trump. He ended up working as a Navy attorney and while stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, DeSantis met his now-wife, a local television host named Casey Black. Later, he was posted to Iraq, where he advised soldiers on the rules of engagement and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service, which is generally reserved for senior officers.
DeSantis finished his military service in 2010 and began to write a book in which he combined his love of the Founding Fathers and his disdain for the political philosophy of former President Barack Obama, whom he branded as a European leftist. The book was titled ‘Dreams from Our Founding Fathers: First Principles in the Age of Obama’ and published in 2011. In 2012, he ran for election to represent a heavily Republican district near Jacksonville. Even though he was not that well known, DeSantis’ university contacts came to the rescue and he won with 38% of the vote. Ron DeSantis held office as a congressman during both the Obama and the Trump presidencies and over the course of five years, he demonstrated a profound coherence in his ideology.

DeSantis showed his dedication to fiscal conservatism and voted against aid for Democratic states in the northeast that had suffered the wrath of Hurricane Sandy. He formed the Freedom Caucus in 2015, a group of ultraconservative lawmakers. During Trump’s term, he became a champion of the former president, defending him in the investigations into the possibility that Trump received help with his campaign from the Russian government. It is now commented that perhaps Ron DeSantis’ vehement defence of Trump was an attempt to get the attention of both Donald and his voter base. Former employees of DeSantis have told the media that he was skilled at finding current hot-button issues that ended up getting him interviews.

Congressman DeSantis was not particularly popular in Washington, though as colleagues from Capitol Hill tended to describe him as aloof. Some observers say that Ron was more concerned about being on television and earning Trump’s respect that he considered the keys to success for his next goal and that was to become the governor of Florida. By 2018 DeSantis had fulfilled his goal and garnered an early endorsement from Trump in his run for the gubernatorial house. He made the most of it and won the primary election, thanks in large part to Trump’s support.

In 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, DeSantis had no qualms relaxing restrictions for businesses and schools despite federal guidelines to the contrary. He also overruled local officials who wanted to preserve mask mandates. There are those who fear DeSantis could be more dangerous than Trump if he were to be elected as president: he is younger, more competent, efficient, and ruthless. Nonetheless, the first nominating contest for the 2024 election is still eighteen months away, and this is considered an awfully long time in politics. TW

 

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