DeSantis steps up dire warning to GOP about distraction from Biden, amid Trump’s latest indictment

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is warning fellow Republicans not to get distracted by refighting the 2020 election next year, despite Donald Trump’s popularity as the potential 2024 GOP nominee, focused on vindicating his defeat. DeSantis recently expressed doubt about the false election theories that led to Trump’s federal indictment. Instead, he is emphasizing the need to concentrate on defeating Democratic President Joe Biden as the primary objective for the party.

During his campaign stops in early-voting states, DeSantis emphasized that any other focus apart from defeating Biden would be detrimental to the party’s chances. He believes that if the election is about forward-looking policies and not dwelling on the past, Republicans will have a better chance of winning across the country.

In contrast, Trump’s campaign released an online ad attacking the Justice Department’s special counsel, Jack Smith, who led the investigation resulting in Trump’s indictment on four felony counts related to his efforts to reverse the 2020 election loss. Trump, however, claimed that such indictments actually boosted his popularity in the polls.

While DeSantis has been critical of the alleged “weaponization” of federal agencies, he has not directly commented on whether he would have certified the 2020 Electoral College vote like Mike Pence did, given the events that unfolded during the Capitol riot.

Despite some previous reluctance to question the legitimacy of the 2020 election, DeSantis has recently gone further by stating that Trump’s claim of beating Biden was unsubstantiated. He asserts that it is time for Republicans to stop making excuses and focus on getting the job done.

During his campaign events, DeSantis highlighted his conservative record on education, abortion, and gender policies in Florida, along with a GOP-friendly national agenda. He aims to move the party forward by emphasizing practical solutions rather than dwelling on past grievances.

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• “DeSantis urges Republicans to avoid refighting 2020 election” (CNN)
• “Donald Trump remains a dominant favorite for the 2024 GOP nomination” (NBC News)
• “DeSantis casts doubt on false theories about the 2020 election” (The Washington Post)
• “DeSantis highlights his record in conservative policies” (ABC News)
• “Trump campaign releases online ad attacking Justice Department’s special counsel” (Reuters)
• “DeSantis critical of alleged ‘weaponization’ of federal agencies” (Politico)
• “DeSantis comments on Vice President Kamala Harris’s authority in 2024 election” (The Hill)