On this special episode of the PBD Podcast, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joined Patrick Bet-David to discuss the governor’s 2024 campaign, the division within the Republican Party, and the Israel-Palestine conflict, among other things.
Here are some of the highlights and standout moments from this one-on-one conversation:
1. “Territorial Integrity” – Ron DeSantis on the Israel-Palestine Conflict
As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, finding a solution to the bloody conflict has become one of the biggest issues for the 2024 presidential candidates. But as Congress works to provide Israel with additional funding, many Americans are beginning to wonder if the United States is being manipulated into joining a war that has nothing to do with them.
Responding to an old video of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussing how to “easily maneuver” the United States, Governor DeSantis discussed the relationship between the two countries.
“The American people by and large have an affinity for Israel, largely within our Christian community based on the history of the Judeo-Christian tradition and how it’s shaped this country,” he said.
However, that affinity doesn’t mean the US can be easily manipulated by foreign interests, and the primary concern for America’s leaders should be the border and immigration crisis. “I think there is going to be a terrorist attack in this country that we can trace back to the border,” DeSantis said. If the US continues to be flooded with foreign cultures that refuse to assimilate and embrace American values, we may soon find ourselves facing the same problems as Europe.
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2. “The Surrender Caucus” – Infighting in the Republican Party
When Patrick asked DeSantis to categorize himself as either a unifier or a revolutionary within the Republican Party, the Florida Governor had a simple answer: both.
As a conservative with a clear record on the issues, DeSantis has stood up to the establishment, but he has also managed to bring in Independents to win two back-to-back elections. “In Florida, we produced results … and we also moved the electorate,” he said.
Meanwhile, the left is filling every power vacuum and taking over institutions, leaving the Republican Party — which DeSantis calls the “surrender caucus” — struggling to catch up.
3. “Put On Your Big-Boy Pants” – Donald Trump and the Greater Good
While Governor DeSantis was once considered a supporter of former President Donald Trump (and even campaigned for governor with Trump’s endorsement), the relationship between the two has soured in the last year. But as DeSantis argued, Trump’s support was hardly a factor in his first victory, as proven by his landslide 2022 victory without Trump.
“He attacked me, and then I won by 1.5 million votes,” DeSantis said, calling out the former president for failing to lead a “Red Wave” after leaving office. While other elected leaders tried to install Republicans around the country, DeSantis says Trump failed to contribute.
“That’s not the way it works,” he said. “You put your big boy pants on and you’re held accountable for your actions.”
But that’s not all Governor Ron DeSantis had to say. Watch the full episode for more about the upcoming debate with Gavin Newsom, DeSantis’ marketing efforts, and the governor’s footwear preferences.
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