Former President Donald Trump recently suggesting that his 2016 debate performance against Hillary Clinton after the release of the Access Hollywood tape was braver than a military battle is offensive and wrong, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.
“Debating is the bare minimum that a political candidate should do,” DeSantis, the only only veteran in the 2024 race, said. “I would note, Donald Trump has refused to debate throughout this campaign.”
Trump has opted out of presidential primary debates this election cycle, citing his overwhelming lead in the polls, which DeSantis said indicated a sense of entitlement.
“He doesn’t think he owes it to Iowans. He doesn’t think he owes it to Granite Staters to show up and debate and answer questions,” DeSantis said.
As he often does on the trail, DeSantis argued that Trump is a different brand of candidate today than he was in 2015 and 2016.
“Back then, he was colorful, but it was really America first about the policies. Now, a lot of it’s about him,” DeSantis said.
More context: Delivering a speech at the New York Young Republican Club Gala Saturday, Trump said: “A general, who’s a fantastic general, said to me, ‘Sir, I’ve been on the battlefield, men have been gunned down on my left and on my right. I’ve stood on hills where soldiers were killed, but I believe the bravest thing I’ve ever seen was the night you went unto that stage with Hillary Clinton after what happened.”
The next day, DeSantis posted on X: “Trump denigrates military service by claiming it is ‘braver’ that he debated Hillary Clinton than what soldiers endure on the battlefield. Debating isn’t ‘brave;’ it’s the bare minimum any candidate should do. Hiding from debates, on the other hand, is an example of cowardice.”
DeSantis, who served in the US Navy as a Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer, said his military experience would color the way he would approach foreign policy and potentially sending troops into harm’s way as president.
While he believes in “peace through strength,” DeSantis said if troops are sent, they need to have a “clear objective” of what mission they’re trying to fulfill.
“We can’t have these situations where people are toiling for years and years in these foreign countries with no concrete example of victory. So, I hope to never do it, but if we ever need to, we are going to win,” DeSantis said.
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