“The Grassroots Seem To Be With Trump,”: Boos Erupt at GOP Rally as Crowd Rejects Trump Criticism, Desantis’ Support Dips in Home State

Michelle HollandNov 7, 2023

Minute Read

The rivalry between former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis has continued to heat up as both headed to Florida in order to position themselves as the dominant Republican presidential candidate.

Matching Backdrops

Both gave speeches in front of screens that read “Florida is DeSantis Country” and “Florida is Trump Country,” highlighting how both candidates feel possessive over the state. While each received a rapturous response, it was clear that the crowd favored Trump.

Boos for Trump Critics

Before either Trump or Santos took to the stage, two other GOP presidential candidates — Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie — delivered their own remarks and were booed for their criticisms of Trump.

DeSantis and Trump’s Speeches

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DeSantis has been highly critical of Trump but avoided directly attacking him in Orlando. Trump, on the other hand, boasted about his significant lead in Florida and invited lawmakers who recently flipped from DeSantis to his team onto the stage.

Disparaging Nicknames

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Trump gave DeSantis mocking nicknames during his speech, calling him “Ron Sanctimonious” and “DeSanctus”, accusing him of being disloyal for running against him having previously requested his endorsement with “tears flowing from his eyes.”

Thinly Veiled Digs

DeSantis levied indirect criticism at both Trump and Biden. “We have a president, we don’t even know who the president is, it’s whoever’s load the teleprompter,” he declared, referencing Biden’s use of the aid in his speeches. “You gotta speak from the heart! It’s not about reading off a teleprompter.”

A Double Meaning

The jabs were also aimed at Trump, whom DeSantis has accused of being “wedded to the teleprompter” and faltering when left to speak without the crutch. He also said Republicans have “blown winnable elections” and smeared the GOP brand as “toxic” outside of Florida.

DeSantis’ Record In Florida

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DeSantis emphasized his success in Florida politics. “Florida’s the model!” he exclaimed. “We know how to get it done.”

Trump Takes On Biden

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Trump focused the majority of his ire on Biden, reaffirming his unfounded belief that “the whole election was a lie” and framing his legal battles as political persecution.

A Fraught Relationship

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DeSantis has recently accused Trump of not having the “balls” to debate him, whereas Trump’s ardent supporters have mocked DeSantis over the possibility that he wears lifts in his shoes. DeSantis has since spoken about how he is “done with all the trivialities.” He added, “It’s not something that we need to be concerned about. We need to be concerned about looking forward. We need to be concerned about winning and leading.”

Facing MAGA Crowds

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The audience in Orlando was stationed to defend Trump, with boos ringing out when Hutchinson remarked on the “significant likelihood that Donald Trump will be found guilty by a jury on a felony offense next year.” He continued, “As a party, we must support the rule of law, we can not win as a country without integrity…”

Destructive Behavior

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Hutchinson noted Trump’s “destructive” behavior, adding “I assure you we ignore it at our peril. The next generation will not look favorably…” Such condemnations were muffled by the crowd’s jeers and demands to “go home!”

Christie Slams Trump Fans

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Chris Christie also joined Hutchinson in reprimanding Trump and his supporters. “Your anger against the truth is reprehensible,” he told the audience. Tension is mounting within the GOP as first voting begins in just two months in Iowa.

A Divided GOP Base

Though Republicans are divided, it’s clear that Trump still has a lot of loyalists excited to vote for his second presidency. The other contenders’ attempts to critique Trump have been met with anger, and he is currently leading polls by a wide margin.

Changing Allegiances

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To demonstrate his dominance, Trump brought out five lawmakers who previously supported DeSantis but switched their endorsements to Trump in a humiliating display in DeSantis’ home state. Florida has been DeSantis’ base of support, contributing much of his fundraising and campaign talking points. DeSantis has also flaunted his governing record in the state, earning him the approval of many Florida legislators.

A Struggling National Campaign

DeSantis won reelection to governor by nearly 20 percentage points, but so far this hasn’t translated into success in his primary campaign. Trump leads nationally, including in key early states.

DeSantis Defectors

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Lawmakers defecting from DeSantis to Trump include prominent Jewish Republican Randy Fine who claimed DeSantis hasn’t done enough to condemn antisemitism. Senator Rick Scott is among several other legislators, both at state and federal levels, who switched to Trump.

Optimistic Predictions

DeSantis is still predicting he will win Florida’s state primary in March. Commenting on his dwindling support, he said “This happens in these things. We’ve had flips the other way in other states. It’s a dynamic thing.” Fine, however, has insisted that “the grassroots seem to be with Trump,” and that he sees him winning over DeSantis by a wide margin.

Floridians Weigh In

On a Flordia comment board, citizens gave their thoughts on the latest developments in DeSantis versus Trump. “He already has taken over the Florida Republican Party, at least in terms of voter base,” one observed. Others were sick of both candidates, with one person writing, “Can’t they all just go away? I’m so tired.” Another concurred, “Most Floridians would be fine if neither of these men ever stepped foot in the state again.”