'Everyone over there will either be fired or indicted': Report describes war between Trump camp and defectors
Members of former President Donald Trump's inner circle are turning on each other as the group that had been a unified team in the 2020 election faces defections to the soon-to-be-declared campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, reported The Daily Beast on Friday.
"When a former top communications staffer for Donald Trump announced in March that he was joining a super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ likely presidential campaign, the news lit up Republican political circles," reported Zachary Petrizzo and Jake Lahut.
"To observers of the emerging 2024 primary, the defection of Matt Wolking — who led Trump’s 'war room' rapid-response operation in 2020 — was one of the clearest signs yet that even MAGA loyalists were ready to jump on the DeSantis train. 'Trump was the president we needed 8 years ago, but to make America great again, our movement needs a disciplined leader who wins instead of loses, never backs down, fights smart, and puts the mission before himself,' Wolking tweeted at the time."
One Trump staffer speaking to The Beast echoed Trump's infamous 2016 campaign line that Mexico isn't "sending their best" to the United States, saying Trump world is not sending their "best and brightest" to DeSantis.
Wolking hit back, telling The Beast, “Ron DeSantis is a conservative winner and undefeated fighter who represents the future. No one in their right mind who wants to see Biden out of the White House would work for Trump now. In the near future, everyone over there will either be fired, indicted, or working for Laura Loomer anyway" — a reference to a far-right activist who has mounted several unsuccessful political campaigns and lawsuits, and whom Trump wanted to hire for his campaign earlier this year.
"It’s not just the defections that are annoying Trumpworld — it’s how DeSantis’ operation is talking about them," said the report. "A different Trump operative close to the 2024 campaign said that the DeSantis PAC is obsessed 'with getting press coverage about themselves' by hyping personnel moves and 'strategy.' 'Masturbating to reporters. This is all for Jeff Roe’s pleasure and bank account,' they added, name-checking the bigshot GOP strategist now working for DeSantis. According to these sources, there is a disconnect between how some of DeSantis’ newfound staff and Trump’s staff view their roles — and it plays into the Trumpworld belief that the Florida governor’s team consists of hired guns, not true believers."
Recent polling has indicated Trump holds a commanding lead in the GOP presidential primary, with DeSantis a firm but distant second, and others like former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley straggling with little support.