Florida Governor Ron DeSantis addresses concerns over government overreach while engaging with Nevada Republicans in Trump country, Your Content has learned.
During his speech at the annual Basque Fry gathering, DeSantis criticized Walt Disney World and the U.S. Justice Department, refraining from commenting directly on the federal indictment of his chief Republican rival, Donald Trump.
Expressing his worry about the current state of affairs in the country, DeSantis stated, “We’re going to end this weaponization of government once and for all.”
He emphasized the need to address the issue and called for an end to what he perceives as rampant insanity in the United States.
DeSantis’ decision to focus on government overreach comes at a time when the 2024 Republican presidential candidates are grappling with how to respond to Trump’s recent indictment.
While some Republicans have expressed serious concerns about the charges, DeSantis has largely chosen to overlook the situation, concentrating instead on criticizing the Justice Department.
However, it remains uncertain whether DeSantis can gain ground on Trump in the polls by sidestepping one of the dominant issues of the race.
This debate unfolded as DeSantis sought to court over 2,000 conservatives, including numerous Trump loyalists, at the Basque Fry event in Nevada.
DeSantis’ team believes he is well-positioned to compete with Trump in Nevada, one of the first states to hold a primary contest next year.
Apart from addressing issues such as the “war on woke,” DeSantis hopes to capitalize on his close personal connection with a prominent Republican leader, Adam Laxalt.
Laxalt, a former state attorney general and DeSantis’ roommate during naval officer training, has already endorsed the Florida governor by assuming the role of chairman for DeSantis’ national super PAC.
While DeSantis remained optimistic, it was unclear how many Republican voters in the western state of Nevada were willing to abandon their support for Trump.
The audience’s response to DeSantis’ speech at the Basque Fry was lukewarm, with only a few instances of polite applause when early speakers attempted to present DeSantis as the GOP’s best hope for 2024.
Don Fautt, a Republican voter from Sparks, Nevada, expressed his support for DeSantis in the upcoming primary but insisted that he would back Trump if the former president were on the ballot.
Fautt praised Trump’s assertiveness, describing him as a warrior capable of fixing the country’s issues.
During his address, DeSantis took the opportunity to denounce Walt Disney World for allegedly “supporting the sexualization of minors.”
This feud between the Florida governor and the entertainment giant began when Disney publicly opposed legislation regarding sexual orientation and gender identity education in early grades.
As a consequence, DeSantis enacted legislation to assume control of Disney World’s governing district and appointed a new board of supervisors.
The Basque Fry event, modeled after cookouts hosted by U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt, has become a significant stop on the Republican presidential circuit.
DeSantis engaged with attendees, including VIPs and event sponsors, before taking the stage. His wife, Casey, also interacted with participants outside the barn, where their children enjoyed playing on an inflatable bull.
Carlene Rader, a retiree from Carson City, expressed her preference for DeSantis over Trump, particularly citing her concerns about the allegations against Trump outlined by federal prosecutors.
The indictment charged Trump with 37 felony counts, including violations of the Espionage Act, alleging illegal storage of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort and attempts to conceal them from investigators’ demands, according US News.