Trump vs. DeSantis Rivalry Heats Up in Miami

MIAMI, FLORIDA — The GOP’s biggest rivalry got a little bit spicier in South Florida on Wednesday night.

In his opening statement at the third Republican presidential debate, Ron DeSantis lambasted Donald Trump – arguing that the former president owes it to the American people to be on the debate stage to explain why he should get another chance in the White House.

“If you look where we are now, it’s a lot different than where we were in 2016,” DeSantis said. “And Donald Trump’s a lot different guy than he was in 2016.”

“He owes it to you to be on this stage and explain why he should get another chance,” DeSantis added. “He should explain why he didn’t have Mexico pay for the border wall. He should explain why he racked up so much debt. He should explain why he didn’t drain the swamp.”

“EVERYBODY’S WATCHING US”

But the front-runner in the GOP presidential primary opted against taking the stage with his competitors. Instead, Trump held a rally in nearby Hialeah, a working-class city where he continued to stake his claim as the unquestionable nominee.

“Nobody’s talking about it,” Trump said of the debate less than ten miles away. “Everybody’s watching us.”

Trump dismissed DeSantis’ landslide victory in the 2022 gubernatorial and touted his own scorecard.

“Remember we got 1.2 million more votes than Ron DeSanctimonious,” Trump said, pledging to win Florida again.

Curiously, Trump’s victory margins continue to grow with time. The figure he threw out on Wednesday is roughly 100,000 voters larger than the number he cited one year ago after DeSantis historic reelection. 

In fact, the total number of votes between Trump’s 2020 count in Florida and DeSantis’ 2022 midterm tally is actually 1,059,621 – about 140,000 less than Trump claims.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP AVENUE?

Trump made substantial gains in Hialeah during the 2020 election and maintains broad appeal in the region’s largely Cuban-American community. Although Governor DeSantis is respected there, Trump is revered.

“We’re so humbled that he picked Hialeah to do this rally because Hialeah loves Donald Trump,” Hialeah Mayor Steve Bovo told the crowd before Trump took the stage.

Bovo also praised Trump as he revealed a plan to name a street in Hialeah “President Donald J. Trump Avenue.”

Hitting many of his usual talking points – Trump repeated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, roasted the mainstream media and pledged to cancel student visas of all “Hamas sympathizers” on college campuses. He also vowed to prevent World War III, promising to build a missile shield to protect U.S. cities.

STRUGGLING AMERICANS

Across town at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, DeSantis spoke directly to struggling Americans.

“I will fight for you,” DeSantis said. “I will make sure to lead this country’s revival, and I will win for you and your family. We don’t have time for excuses.”

“This country is in trouble,” DeSantis continued. “And the elites that have put us here, they don’t care about you. They don’t care that you’re having to grapple with higher grocery prices or have higher gas prices. They don’t care that your family’s less secure because of the open border that’s allowed drugs and even terrorists to come into this country.”

“Well, I care,” DeSantis added. “We need leadership and we need it now. ’Cause ultimately, it’s not about me. It’s about you.”

VOTERS LOOKING AT OPTIONS

After sweeping losses by Republicans nationwide on Tuesday, DeSantis’ campaign manager, James Uthmeier, said America needs a fresh new leader who can “actually show up and serve two terms.”

“He spoke directly to people at home in a way that no other candidate on stage could,” Uthmeier said of DeSantis. “People that are suffering at home, unable to afford their mortgage, unable to afford gas – that’s because of Bidenflation.”

Uthmeier said Trump is now spending millions to attack DeSantis in Iowa as more than 70 percent of the electorate are now looking at their options.

“It’s definitely bothering him,” Uthmeier said of Trump. “He sees where the threat is.”