DeSantis Accused of ‘Globetrotting’ on Taxpayer Money

Former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign committee on Monday blasted Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis — widely expected to jump into the White House race — for “globe-trotting” at state taxpayers’ expense.

In a withering attack posted on the campaign site, DeSantis was accused of “yet another flip-flop” for staying in office while on trips seen as part of a run-up to his 2024 White House bid.

“New questions are emerging as to whether this will force DeSantis to resign from office,” the statement said of DeSantis’ “monthlong taxpayer-funded presidential schedule,” noting DeSantis “previously resigned from Congress to run for Governor to ‘protect the taxpayers.'”

The campaign statement said Florida has a “Resign to Run” law that requires statewide officeholders to leave their positions if they’re running for federal office.

In a December interview with the The Associated Press, Nova Southeastern University Law School professor Bob Jarvis said: “There is no ambiguity, no debate, no dispute. Under current law, DeSantis cannot run for president before first resigning as a governor.”

The Trump campaign acknowledged the Florida Legislature is reportedly mulling a change to the state law but added: “DeSantis has already begun his month-long, taxpayer-funded campaign schedule before legislation could be passed.”

Politico has reported that DeSantis’ April schedule includes visits to Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Ohio, New Hampshire, Utah, and Texas.

DeSantis also plans an April 19 public appearance in South Carolina, is visiting Israel and the U.K., and is reportedly going to Japan and Korea as well, the campaign message stated.

In 2018, when DeSantis was running for governor and resigned from Congress, he said it would be “inappropriate” to “accept a salary” when he would be missing “the vast majority” or “remaining session days.”

“Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to campaign full-time for president, during the Florida legislative session, while collecting a salary and having the taxpayers pick up the costs for his travel and security. It’s a massive flip-flop from his position in 2018,” said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung. “To make matters worse, DeSantis’ upcoming taxpayer-funded campaign travel appears to put him at odds with Florida’s existing ‘Resign to Run’ law.”

The Trump campaign accused DeSantis of having “used taxpayer dollars to travel around the country for his 2024 presidential campaign, including to the early voting states of Iowa and Nevada.”

“DeSantis’ gubernatorial office, however, refuses to tell reporters — and the public — how much taxpayer money has been spent to fund these travels, or how much DeSantis’ April globe-trotting will cost,” the statement added.