Tucker Carlson has ripped in to Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign team as the “nastiest, stupidest” political operation he has ever seen.
Mr Carlson also blamed the Florida Governor’s flip-flop on opposition to Ukraine funding after being pressured by top GOP donor Ken Griffin during a live debate with podcaster Tim Pool at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest.
“You really get the sense that Ron DeSantis – who I liked as governor – the people who represent him online are the nastiest, the stupidest, and the most zero-sum people I’ve ever seen in my life,” Carlson said.
“And I don’t think that reflects him, but it’s like, this is kind of small ball.”
Pool, an influential far-right media figure, agreed that the DeSantis campaign’s repeated missteps reflected badly on him.
Tucker Carlson calls out DeSantis' campaign:
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 19, 2023
“The people who represent him online are the nastiest, the stupidest, and the most zero-sum people I’ve ever seen in my life.” pic.twitter.com/GAE1okdnsQ
“Ron should have fired the people running his campaign a long time ago,” Pool said.
“The high heels, boot scandal. Who’s giving this guy advice and why does he keep taking it?” he added, referring to Mr DeSantis being roasted for wearing heel lifts.
“Politically, and policy wise, we love Ron DeSantis. He’s done an amazing job. But his campaign is a trainwreck.”
Mr DeSantis’s repeated missteps have seen national support for his ailing presidential campaign fall from 30 per cent in March to 12 per cent, according to FiveThirtyEight.
DeSantis has seen his polls plummet in the past six months— (Charlie Neibergall/AP)
He has faced staff departures, plummeting finances, and a donor revolt, while being unable to land any blows on the runaway frontrunner Donald Trump.
Carlson, who has been linked to a run for vice president, also claimed that Mr DeSantis had been unduly influenced by deep pocketed donors such as Mr Griffin, a billionaire hedge fund manager.
He said Mr Griffin had told him to “change his view on Ukraine from ‘It’s a regional conflict we shouldn’t get involved in’ to ‘It’s a super important thing. We should send more money.'”
