DeSantis a ‘wounded falling bird’: Trump mocks Republican rival at Florida summit

Former US President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on his Republican rival Ron DeSantis, mocking the Florida Governor as a ‘wounded falling bird’, as he addressed a GOP event in Florida on Saturday.

Trump, who has been dominating the Republican presidential race, addressing the Florida GOP Freedom Summit, referred to the Florida Governor as a “wounded falling bird from the sky,” suggesting that DeSantis’ political career was on a downward trajectory. The event marked yet another episode in the growing rivalry between the two political figures, who were once allies.

Trump said that DeSantis had “begged for his endorsement” in 2018, which he said propelled DeSantis’ career like a “rocket ship”.

“I endorsed him and he became a rocket ship in 24 hours. â€æ Now he’s like a wounded falling bird from the sky,” Trump said.

DeSantis, on the other hand, who spoke before Trump, chose not to engage with the former president directly during his time on stage. Instead, he focused on his achievements as Florida’s governor, asserting that his conservative policies have led the way forward for the Republican Party.

“Florida has shown the way forward for the Republican Party. No state has done more to beat the left at the institutional level than we have in the state of Florida,” DeSantis told the crowd.

DeSantis, once seen as a strong contender against Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential elections, has consistently polled poorly lately, with a recent survey indicating he trails Trump by 27 percentage points.

Both leaders engaged in multiple verbal jabs recently.