DeSantis shares concerns about Trump during conference call

On a conference call with more than 200 Republican party strategists and backers, Florida Go. and former presidential candidate Ron DeSantis said that former President Donald Trump should not consider identity politics when picking his vice-presidential candidate.

“Now we have a diverse Republican Party. I want everybody in the fold, don’t get me wrong. But I don’t want people representing 10, 15% of the party being in the driver’s seat,” DeSantis said on the call.

“So I would want somebody that, if something happened, the people that voted us in would have been pleased to know that they’re going to continue the mission,” DeSantis added. “I’m not sure that those are going to necessarily be the criteria that Donald Trump uses. … I have heard that they’re looking more in identity politics. I think that’s a mistake. I think you should just focus on who the best person for the job would be, and then do that accordingly.”

His comments got pushback from at least one Trump adviser, but it makes sense given who DeSantis is and also the fact that, as a white man who doesn't fit into any of the identity boxes, he could be angling for the position himself.

“Chicken fingers and pudding cups is what you will be remembered for you sad little man,” Trump adviser Chris LaCivita said Wednesday on X, referring to DeSantis.

“Ron DeSantis failed miserably in his presidential campaign and does not have a voice in selecting the next vice president of the United States,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in response. “Rather than throw cheap shots from afar, Ron should focus on what he can do to fire [President] Joe Biden and Make America Great Again.”