WASHINGTON, D.C. — Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis slammed U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Monday after McCarthy said the Florida governor is “not at the same level” as Donald Trump.
“Kevin McCarthy says I’m a little different from Donald Trump. I agree,” DeSantis wrote in a post on X. “In Florida, we run budget surpluses. We’ve paid down our debt. I’ve kept every one of my promises. Meanwhile, McCarthy and Trump worked together to add $7 trillion – more debt than our country racked up in its first 200 years – to the debt in just four years.”
Kevin McCarthy says I’m a little different from Donald Trump. I agree.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) September 18, 2023
In Florida, we run budget surpluses. We’ve paid down our debt. I’ve kept every one of my promises.
Meanwhile, McCarthy and Trump worked together to add $7 trillion — more debt than our country racked up in… pic.twitter.com/TqZih4t8U8
DESANTIS FLIPS THE SCRIPT
In July, McCarthy declined to endorse Trump and remained neutral. But on Sunday, he told Fox News that DeSantis wouldn’t be where he is without Trump.
“President Trump is beating Biden right now in the polls. He is stronger than he has ever been in this process, and, look, I served with Ron DeSantis – he’s not at the same level as President Trump by any shape or form. He would not have gotten elected without President Trump’s endorsement.”
“I think he will be the nominee,” McCarthy said about Trump.
But DeSantis flipped the script on McCarthy during a press conference on Monday, reminding him that Trump was “instrumental” in his slim victory as speaker.
“I don’t think he would have won the speaker vote,” DeSantis said.
“Donald Trump was instrumental in him earning that speaker’s gavel, and they worked hand in glove really throughout his whole presidency,” DeSantis added. “They were on the same team on every major spending bill that came down the pike and they ended up together adding $7.8 trillion to our national debt.”
MCCARTHY UNDER PRESSURE
Not surprisingly, McCarthy’s compliment to Trump comes as he faces down the former president’s allies in the House Freedom Caucus over the ongoing federal budget deal.
McCarthy is also under pressure from House members over an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as the federal government heads toward a potential shutdown.
The recent jab at DeSantis comes after the Florida governor and former founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus got involved in Washington’s spending fight.
Last week, DeSantis advised Reps. Bob Good of Virginia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chip Roy of Texas to continue to stonewall against out-of-control federal spending.
