Tensions are rising between former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and matters just got worse…
According to reports from The Hill, a super PAC (political action committee) aligned with DeSantis has reportedly hired another former Trump campaign aide.
Matt Wolking, who served as deputy communications director for Trump’s last presidential bid, announced on Monday that he would join the super PAC Never Back Down as its strategic communications director.
On Monday, Wolking said that former President Donald Trump was the right person for the White House in 2016 but now Republicans need “a disciplined leader who wins instead of loses, never backs down, fights smart, and puts the mission before himself.”
“Governor DeSantis is bold, effective, and knows how to finish the job, so with him as president we will finally be able to win so much that we’ll be tired of all the winning,” Wolking continued in another tweet.
Never Back Down was formed earlier this month by Ken Cuccinelli, a former Trump Admin. deputy Homeland Security secretary. (RELATED: Former Trump Administration Official Launches PAC To Draft DeSantis)
The new hire coincides with a new threat from Trump’s campaign: Support DeSantis and suffer the consequences.
According to a report from RealClearPolitics (RCP), Trump’s campaign has informed conservative operatives that anyone who works for the Florida governor can expect to be blacklisted from future positions.
According to sources with direct knowledge of the edict, Justin Caporale, who helps lead the advance team for the former president, has said that anyone who staffed a recent DeSantis book tour will be considered “persona non grata.” A top Trump ally was more comprehensive, telling RealClearPolitics that the prohibition would apply to more than just the junior aides tasked with setting up folding chairs and hanging banners.
“It’s a time for choosing,” the source close to the former president said. “If you work for Ron DeSantis’ presidential race, you will not work for the Trump campaign or in the Trump White House.”
The threat comes as Trump enjoys a commanding lead in the 2024 GOP presidential primary field. However, despite DeSantis’ undeclared status, the Florida Republican has easily cruised to second place in most 2024 hypothetical matchups, causing concern within Trump’s camp.
According to a recent poll reported by Axios, DeSantis is leading Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head primary race in Iowa and tied in New Hampshire.
Both DeSantis and Trump received 39 percent of support from respondents in a head-to-head primary election in New Hampshire.
When asked which GOP candidate is better suited to defeat President Joe Biden, 48 percent of New Hampshire voters said DeSantis, while 46 percent said Trump.
Fifty-four percent of respondents in Iowa view DeSantis as the better candidate to take on Biden, compared to 44 percent who chose Trump.
The rift between the two Republican powerhouses turned personal last week when DeSantis responded to news of Trump’s possible indictment, telling reporters he had “no interest” in inserting himself into “some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA.” (RELATED: Trump Indictment Delayed After Grand Jury Schedules Additional Witness)
“I’ve seen rumors swirl. I have not seen any facts yet, and so I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said DeSantis at the time. “But I do know this: The Manhattan district attorney is a Soros-funded prosecutor and so he, like other Soros-funded prosecutors, they weaponize their office to impose a political agenda on society at the expense of the rule of law and public safety.”
Trump is known to direct his ire toward conservatives he deems disloyal. Following Trump’s second impeachment trial he pledged to support primary candidates focused on ousting Republican lawmakers who voted alongside Democrats.
However, a source told RCP that the textbook Trump power-play likely won’t work this time around calling Trump’s threat “desperate.”
“Even after the most effective Republican presidency, Trump is bringing back the loyalty test,” the organizer said. “Not loyalty to the country – but for a single candidate. It’s the American people who will ultimately decide who is the next president and many grassroots see through these desperate pleas for allegiance and instead wish there was a substantive debate about the future of our great country.”
Other sources close to Trump say the Florida governor forced his hand by refusing to defend the former president.
“It is very bad politics. This is a critical moment,” a prominent Republican operative said of the DeSantis decision not to rally to Trump’s defense. “I don’t know of any Republican voter that feels okay about what’s happening with President Trump.” The looming indictment, they added, was “the only thing that matters.”
Trump has ramped up his attacks against DeSantis in recent months as speculation continues to swirl around his potential White House challenge.
The news comes after Trump attacked DeSantis during a campaign rally in Texas over the weekend.
A lengthy clip flagged by Mediaite showed the former president’s attacks not landing well with the crowd, who grew mostly silent. “Compared to how Trump’s crowd normally reacts to his bits, the reaction to his mocking DeSantis was practically dead air,” the report said.
Will Trump come to regret his feud with this rising Republican star? Tell us what you think in the comments below!
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Pres Trump needs to quit focasing on himself!! Tired of his reterick . He needs to be respectful of Ron DeSantis & other Republican candidates. It is not working!!
Americans want to move on & if Trump wants be president again, he needs to start
Telling us how he will turn America around after Biden destroying US .
He is! Are you listening?
Kathleen (ChatGPT) Carter!!!
DON’T FALL FOR IT!!! This is all “Divide and Conquer” crap!!! The CommuFascists know DeSantis can’t win… but they’ll draw off enough votes to keep Trump from winning!!!
Play nice TaaRump and try to behave like an adult!