Is Trump actually right?
Former President Trump blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over his latest comments on the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that the governor had switched his position in order to follow in Trump’s steps.
On Tuesday, DeSantis made national headlines after responding to a questionnaire by Fox News Tucker Carlson stating that the war in Ukraine was not one of the country’s “vital interests.” He proceeded to call the invasion of the country and war a territorial dispute between Russia and Ukraine.
These comments led to criticisms not only from the Democrats but also from some Republicans. DeSantis is not the first GOP member to have criticized the U.S.’s involvement and position in the war. In fact, Trump holds a similar position as the one expressed by DeSantis which is why his criticisms of the Florida Republican were not regarding his stance.
Instead, Trump claimed that DeSantis was “totally different” but that he is now “following what I am saying.” He concluded that “Whatever I want, he wants.”
DeSantis first rose to prominence after gaining the support of Trump while he was serving in Congress. In 2018 he was elected as the governor of Florida and in 2022 he managed an impressive reelection victory. After rising to prominence across the nation for his fight against woke culture and his stance on the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis is considered to be Trump’s biggest rival for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
When responding to Carlson’s questionnaire, Trump also said that the war in Ukraine was not of vital national interest.