Trump Responds to Reports Claiming That He Has Conflict with DeSantis

Madeline Leesman | January 21, 2022 3:30 PM

Former President Donald Trump appeared in a Fox News interview this week where he debunked claims that he has “long-stewing resentment” towards GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The Times’ article, “Who is the King of Florida? Tensions Rise Between Trump and a Former Acolyte,” published on Sunday, claimed that a “spat” over the Wuhan coronavirus created “friction” between the former president and the governor. Trump told Fox News commentator Sean Hannity that he gets along great with DeSantis and echoed DeSantis’ response that the report was “total BS.”

“Let me ask you, a friend of mine was with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis the other day and had a private conversation but, he said it wasn’t confidential, and he asked if there is any conflict or bickering between you and him and he said ‘absolutely not.’ He said it’s ‘total BS.’ Is he right?” Hannity asked Trump.

“He is right. I get along great with Ron,” Trump responded. “Ron was very good on the Mueller hoax. He was right up front along with Jim Jordan, and all of the rest of them, they were fantastic. The Republicans really stuck together. And it was a great thing. And Ron was one of them. And Ron wanted to run and I endorsed him. And that helped him greatly.”

“He’s done a really terrific job in Florida,” Trump continued. “He’s been a friend of mine for a long time.”

Trump described the Times’ report as “totally fake news.”

“I think Ron said last week, he said it very publicly, he says the press is never going to get in the middle of my friendship with Donald Trump, we’re not going to do that stuff. And he said it very strongly, I thought it was very interesting, actually. And very nice. But he said that, and I agree with him on that 100%. No, I have a very good relationship with Ron and intend to have it for a long time,” Trump added.

A spokesperson for DeSantis told People Magazine this week “it’s not a coincidence that this fabricated media narrative emerged during the worst week of Biden’s presidency to date.”

"Governor DeSantis remains focused on Florida and works every day to earn Floridians' support for re-election in November of this year," the spokeswoman added.

Watch Trump’s interview with Hannity below.