Breaking news

Ron DeSantis denies 2026 reelection is a referendum on Trump

DeSantis urges Republicans to shift focus from Trump’s past controversies to Biden’s policies, aiming to present a positive vision for the future and unify the party for the 2024 election.

DeSantis urges Iowa Republicans to focus on Biden’s policies and future goals for the 2026 elections, shifting the focus away from Trump’s past controversies. Photo: GLR News Composition/ Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times/ David Degner
DeSantis urges Iowa Republicans to focus on Biden’s policies and future goals for the 2026 elections, shifting the focus away from Trump’s past controversies. Photo: GLR News Composition/ Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times/ David Degner

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed concerns that nominating former President Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for the 2024 election could shift the focus from current issues under ex President Joe Biden to Trump's personal legal challenges. DeSantis emphasized that if the election centers on topics like the January 6 Capitol incident or legal controversies surrounding Trump, Republicans risk losing the presidency. ​

DeSantis warns Trump nomination could shift 2024 focus away from key Issues

During a Fox News town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, DeSantis questioned the direction of the Republican campaign, suggesting that a Trump nomination would make the election a referendum on the former president rather than addressing the nation's current challenges. ​

DeSantis highlighted his own record as Florida's governor, citing achievements such as signing restrictive abortion laws and resisting COVID-19 lockdown pressures. He contrasted his leadership with Trump's, particularly criticizing the former president's handling of illegal immigration and the incomplete construction of the border wall. ​

DeSantis urges GOP to focus on Biden, not Trump, to win 2024 election

Addressing undecided Iowa Republicans, DeSantis underscored the importance of focusing on Biden's policies and presenting a positive vision for the future. He warned that diverting attention to past controversies could alienate potential voters and diminish the party's chances in the general election. ​

DeSantis's remarks reflect a strategic effort to position himself as a viable alternative to Trump, aiming to redirect the Republican narrative towards current issues and away from the former president's legal entanglements. This approach seeks to unify the party and enhance its prospects in the upcoming election.