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- Trump and DeSantis are both said to be potential GOP candidates in 2024.
- Trump on Saturday mocked DeSantis with a nickname, something he's often done for political enemies.
- DeSantis also won't be appearing at Trump's Florida rally on Sunday, in an apparent snub.
Former President Donald Trump finally bestowed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with one of his infamous nicknames, signaling a rivalry between the two popular Republicans is heating up as both men could run for the GOP nomination for president in 2024.
Trump used the nickname on Saturday while speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania, where he was campaigning for Republican candidates like Dr. Mehmet Oz, who's running for Senate against Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.
Trump was referencing a poll that showed he was in the lead among other potential Republican nominees when he offhandedly called DeSantis "Ron DeSanctimonious."
It was the first time Trump had debuted the nickname publicly, but New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, who has long covered Trump, said on Twitter the former president had been testing out the nickname over the past two weeks.
—Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) November 6, 2022
Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally and staunch critic of DeSantis, also used the nickname in a post on Truth Social last week. Stone wrote that if DeSantis runs for president in 2024 "it would be the most stunning act of ingratitude and treachery in the history of American politics," adding that Trump's endorsement of DeSantis "made Ron DeSanctimonius Governor #ingrate."
Neither Trump nor DeSantis has announced plans to run for president in 2024, though both are rumored to be potential candidates. Trump has dropped major hints that he plans to run, telling his supporters they'll be happy with his decision, while DeSantis hasn't ruled it out.
Reports have suggested a rivalry between the two, with particular animosity coming from Trump's end. On several occasions, Trump has shared videos and articles on Truth Social that say DeSantis would get destroyed if he ran against the former president.
Haberman reported that in private Trump referred to DeSantis as "fat," "phony," and "whiny." The Washington Post also reported that Trump expressed frustration over DeSantis not being more grateful to him.
DeSantis, who has become a Republican star since being elected governor in 2018, has embraced many of the same political talking points and policies as Trump. But last month, DeSantis endorsed a GOP Senate candidate in Colorado, Joe O'Dea, who is a vocal Trump critic. Trump called the endorsement a "big mistake."
Trump also apparently snubbed DeSantis by not inviting him to appear at his rally in Miami set for Sunday, just two days before the midterm elections. DeSantis is up for re-election and is expected to win easily. Aside from DeSantis, Trump will be appearing alongside just about everyone who's anyone in Florida GOP politics.
One person close to DeSantis told Politico that being iced out of the rally was "an elbow to Ron's throat."
Representatives for Trump and DeSantis did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.
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