TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — A video clip of billionaire hedge fund manager and regime change architect George Soros voicing his analysis of possible Republican presidential candidates for 2024 went viral on Thursday evening.
In the video, Soros states that he sees Ron DeSantis as a more likely Republican candidate for commander-in-chief than former President Trump.
George Soros on 2024 GOP nomination:
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) February 17, 2023
"Trump has turned into a pitiful figure, continually bemoaning his loss in 2020. DeSantis is shrewd, ruthless, and ambitious. He's likely to be the Republican candidate."pic.twitter.com/mhzhkQp04U
“For 2024, Trump and Governor DeSantis of Florida will slug it out for the Republican nomination. Trump has turned into a pitiful figure, continually bemoaning his loss in 2020. Big Republican donors are abandoning him in droves. DeSantis is shrewd, ruthless and ambitious. He’s likely to be the Republican candidate,” Soros stated.
As the clip spread on Twitter, Trump supporters and pundits began to claim that Soros had “endorsed” DeSantis – which either is a gross misinterpretation of the globalist oligarch’s statement or an intentional lie in order to smear the governor.
News site The Gateway Pundit published an article promoting this false narrative, which was picked up by unsuccessful Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake.
Lake tweeted: “The Kiss of Death - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Endorsed by George Soros (VIDEO).”
The Kiss of Death - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Endorsed by George Soros (VIDEO) https://t.co/9dbJ1YOM5w
— Kari Lake (@KariLake) February 17, 2023
Other Trump loyalists also jumped on this train of lies, including pundit Sebastian Gorka, who claimed that Soros was “praising” DeSantis.
I get George Soros attacking President Trump, but praising DeSantis?
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) February 17, 2023
Now that is interesting, don't you think?? pic.twitter.com/CCb0ZqQZpp
The false narrative has since been spread by an army of grassroots Trump supporters, claiming that Soros’ comments contained an endorsement – while some commentators are attempting to call this out as a lie.
Kari Lake is sharing fake news about Governor Ron DeSantis despite him coming to Arizona and doing a campaign rally for her
— Brendon Leslie (@BrendonLeslie) February 17, 2023
Soros did NOT endorse DeSantis - he said dumb things about Trump and Ron and predicted Ron wins the primary pic.twitter.com/bAvFcRVMAJ
It should not be ruled out that this play by Soros may be an attempt to divide and conquer, pitting both sides of the Republican party against each other.