DeSantis: Media and Legal Troubles Fuel GOP Support for Trump

The conservative media and former President Donald Trump’s mounting legal woes are keeping Republicans from moving on, according to former White House contender Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In remarks to New Hampshire Today with Chris Ryan, DeSantis said the rise in Trump’s support correlated with the rise in his legal woes.

The interview was conducted before DeSantis dropped out of the White House run on Sunday, and were made public Monday.

“Well, I think there’s two things,” DeSantis said in answer to why the GOP still clings to Trump.

“I mean, one, you saw the increase in his support when he had the indictment, and every subsequent indictment seems to get a little bit more support. You can track that — it’s a very clear correlation,” DeSantis said.

“I think the other thing is you know, he’s got a phalanx of favorable media,” he said adding: “Any center-right-leaning media has really rallied behind him.”

DeSantis endorsed Trump after dropping out of the race — capping a disappointing primary campaign that began with promise, noted The Hill, which first reported on the interview.

When asked how he or Nikki Haley — a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor — could turn things around amid Trump’s dominant lead in polls, DeSantis tore into Trump for running a “basement campaign.”

“I think that the reality is, is this is a guy that has not been willing to debate. He’s not been willing to answer questions from voters,” he said. “He’s basically run a basement campaign. And so far, he’s gotten away with it because I think he hasn’t been hit by the media for it.”

He defended his own decision to run for the 2024 nomination instead of waiting for the 2028 presidential race.

“You got to run,” he asserted. “I mean, the country is at a crossroads. I don’t think Trump is likely to win. I don’t think he’s likely to bring about the changes that we need so this country gets on a better course, especially as a lame duck. 

“He’d be a lame-duck president on day one.”

Despite the harsh view of Trump, DeSantis signaled his support for the former president in a video message announcing he was suspending his campaign.

“I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee, and I will honor that pledge,” he said. 

“He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear. A repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents,” he announced.