Former President Donald Trump claimed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) cried when he asked for Trump’s endorsement in the Florida gubernatorial primary in 2018.
Trump has pointed out time and again that his endorsement was crucial in securing DeSantis the Republican nomination in 2018, ultimately securing him the position in which he has garnered national fame.
The former president has increasingly stressed the importance of the nomination in recent months. DeSantis is now emerging as a possible rival in the 2024 presidential election.
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In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday, Trump painted the Florida governor’s request in a new light. He claimed DeSantis got overly emotional when asking for his endorsement.
“Ron DeSantis got elected because of me,” Trump said. “You remember — he had nothing, he was dead, he was leaving the race. He came over and he begged me — begged me — for an endorsement.”
“He was getting ready to drop out. … He said, ‘If you endorse me, I’ll win,’ and there were tears coming down from his eyes,” Trump said.
Donald Trump claims that Ron DeSantis called him before the 2018 primary in tears begging for an endorsement:
“He said, ‘if you endorse me, I’ll win,’ and there were tears coming down from his eyes.” pic.twitter.com/ndWuXNqZU4
— The Republican Accountability Project (@AccountableGOP) February 2, 2023
Trump remained ambiguous about whether or not he would support whoever ends up being the 2024 GOP nominee.
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“It would have to depend on who the nominee was,” he told Hewitt.
