Trump Says If He Runs in 2024, DeSantis Will Drop Out — But ‘If I Faced Him, I’d Beat Him’
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Former President Donald Trump is confident about his chances in the 2024 presidential race, telling Yahoo Finance that he expects that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) would drop out rather than compete against him, but he could still beat the Florida governor if he did decide to run.
DeSantis first has to win re-election as governor in 2022, and has repeatedly denied he is setting his sights on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. However, most political observers are skeptical of his denials and he remains is a top contender for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
Polls have consistently showed DeSantis as one of the favorite choices for Republican primary voters; one survey last month of likely voters even showed him just one point behind Trump. A poll taken at the July CPAC conference in Dallas, TX showed Trump as the overwhelming favorite, and when attendees were asked for their choice if Trump didn’t run, 68% picked DeSantis, with the remaining candidates getting only single-digit support.
In the interview with Yahoo Finance, Trump was bullish about his 2024 prospects, predicting that most other Republicans would clear the field for the former president, and even if not, he would still beat them.
“I don’t think I will face him,” he replied when asked about a potential primary battle with DeSantis. “I think most people would drop out, I think he would drop out.”
“If I faced him, I’d beat him like I would beat everyone else,” said Trump.
