After former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton suggested that MAGA supporters needed “deprogramming,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis came to the defense of the committed Trump supporters.
During an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” with host Joe Kernen, the GOP presidential candidate was asked about Clinton’s controversial remarks.
DeSantis responded firmly, saying, “I don’t, I reject that. I mean, look, these are patriotic Americans. They want to see the country do well.”
Kernen then inquired about DeSantis’ strategy for winning over Trump’s supporters, especially as he would have to go against Trump on the campaign trail.
DeSantis responded by emphasizing that Trump’s supporters are a diverse group, and not all of them blindly follow the former president. DeSantis acknowledged that while some individuals may remain steadfast in their support for Trump, many only appreciate the accomplishments of his administration and recognize that the former president has limitations, particularly in terms of electability.
“Some people will be with Trump no matter what. But I think the bulk of the people are people that appreciate what he did. They also understand that he has got limitations in terms of his electability,” he stated.
“He would be a lame duck on day one. If he could even get elected, I think he’d have major problems with personnel. And of course, he didn’t deliver on his core promises to drain the swamp or to have Mexico pay for the border wall or to eliminate the debt,” DeSantis continued.
DeSantis concluded by highlighting the substantial increase in the national debt during Trump’s tenure, saying, “He added $7.8 trillion to the debt. So, that’s all fair game. We’re going to be able to make that case.”
DESANTIS tears into Hillary Clinton for attacking Trump supporters as "cult members": "These are patriotic Americans."
Most Republicans "appreciate" what Trump did but "also understand that he's got limitations in terms of his electability. He would be a lame duck on day one if… pic.twitter.com/LMW9M0YL3F
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) October 6, 2023
DeSantis’ remarks come in response to Clinton’s remarks against the Trump supporters during a Thursday interview with CNN, in which she compared them to cult members and suggested they need “a formal deprogramming.”
“Maybe there needs to be a formal deprogramming of the cult members. “And sadly, so many of those extremists, those MAGA extremists, take their marching orders from Donald Trump, who has no credibility left by any measure. He’s only in it for himself,” she said, as seen in a clip that has captured attention and invited backlash from the right.
In the interview, the failed presidential candidate attempted to make a case for President Joe Biden, as she expressed confidence in his reelection efforts over Trump’s potential candidacy.
“One will wreck our democracy. One violates the law on a regular basis. One appeals to the worst in our collective psyche. The other gets things done. Why is that a hard choice?’ she stated.
