Rep. Troy Nehls says DeSantis 'not ready' to lead GOP as 2024 presidential nominee after Trump dig

"Donald Trump is living in Ron DeSantis' head," said the Texas conservative.

Published: March 23, 2023 11:12pm

Texas Republican Rep. Troy Nehls argues that Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis is not ready to be the party's 2024 nominee for president.

Many have speculated that DeSantis is going to enter the 2024 presidential race.

DeSantis was asked about the potential indictment of former President Trump this week. In response, he criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

"The Manhattan district attorney is a Soros-funded prosecutor, and so he, like other Soros-funded prosecutors, they weaponize their office to impose a political agenda on society at the expense of the rule of law and public safety," he said.

But he also got in a none too subtle dig at the former president.

"I don't know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair," he said. "I can't speak to that."

DeSantis also contrasted his leadership style to Trump's in a recent interview.

"I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership, I get personnel in the government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda," he said. "You bring your own agenda in, you're gone. We're just not going to have that. So, the way we run the government, I think, is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board, and I think that's something that's very important."

In an interview Thursday on Capitol Hill, Nehls responded to DeSantis' statements.

"He was irresponsible," said the lawmaker. "Ron DeSantis had an opportunity to show that he was a true leader and that he supported President Donald Trump, but Donald Trump is living in Ron DeSantis' head, that's what he's doing. He's living in it, and [DeSantis] expressed it, and he displayed it right out in front of the American people talking about prostitutes and hush money, this and that. Ron DeSantis, you made a big, big, big mistake the other day. And I think it's not good. You are not ready today. You're not ready yet to be the leader of our party in this country."