Voter Confronts DeSantis on Approach Toward Trump: ‘Why Haven’t You Gone Directly After Him?’

Hannah Knowles/Washington Post

A voter in Iowa grilled Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at an event on Wednesday, asking the Republican presidential hopeful about his handling of Donald Trump.

The former president maintains a wide lead in the polls for the GOP nomination and has taken repeated shots at DeSantis, whom Trump endorsed for governor in 2018. Trump has called DeSantis “disloyal” for challenging him.

DeSantis has largely avoided criticizing the former president, though he does occasionally fault him for not delivering on his signature promises while campaigning in 2016.

In a video shot by Washington Post reporter Hannah Knowles, a man asked the governor why he doesn’t attack Trump.

“One, why haven’t you gone directly after him?” the man asked. “Your polls are down. He’s up really–”

“What do you mean by going directly after,” DeSantis interrupted.

“In my viewpoint, you’ve gone pretty soft on him,” the man replied.

“I’ve articulated all the differences time and time again on the campaign trail,” DeSantis said. “I think the narrative is this: I think what the media wants is, is they want Republican candidates to just kind of like smearing personally and kind of do that. That’s just not how I roll.”

“No, no, no, no,” the man replied, making clear that’s not what he was advocating.

“He’s been his own worst enemy,” DeSantis continued. “There’s no question about that.”

The man went on to reference Trump’s attacks on Carly Fiorina, whom Trump once called “horse face.” He also cited Trump saying the only reason John McCain is considered a hero is “because he was captured.”

“I mean, those are talking points I would use,” the man said. “The guy has no class in a lot of ways.”