Former President Donald Trump—thanks to the undying support of his followers—is considered the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, despite losing the election in 2020.
But Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, isn't far behind. One could argue DeSantis' political rise is largely of Trump's own making. He was a little-known Florida congressman before Trump endorsed him for governor of the state in 2018.
DeSantis won and has since become one of the most infamous governors in the nation, beloved by conservatives and scorned by liberals for his flouting of safety guidelines amid the pandemic that's killed over 600 thousand Americans.
Now—along with Trump—he's one of the favorites to secure the 2024 nomination, and a new ad is looking to further put the two men at odds in an effort to sabotage DeSantis' 2022 reelection effort.
Watch below.
Remove Ron: Loserwww.youtube.com
The ad, launched Thursday by the Remove Ron PAC, clearly targets Trump's ego, warning him he'll be overshadowed by DeSantis if the governor wins a second term in 2022.
The narrator says:
"He was a nobody, Donald. A rookie congressman. Then, you made him governor of America's third largest state. Now, Ron's beating you in the race for President."
The ad continues:
"Ron must think you're past your prime, or that you're a loser, Donald. Think about it. They're selling 'Ron for President' tee shirts on Amazon, and you're not even allowed on Twitter, Donald. If he wins in '22, you're finished. Ron won't need you. Neither will Florida. The clock is ticking, Donald. What are you gonna do about it?"
The ad is set to air on Fox News in Sarasota, Florida this weekend—just around the time Trump will be in town for one of his infamous rallies.
But people were confused by the video's intention, believing it backfired by painting DeSantis in a positive light.
But even without Remove Ron's ad, the seeds of division between the two men are being planted for harvest in the 2024 Republican primary.
@WhiteHouse/X
