Trump criticizes Newsom, pays little attention to DeSantis at CA GOP convention.

Trump Takes Aim at ‍Newsom, Skirts DeSantis in Fiery California GOP Speech

ANAHEIM, California — Former President‌ Donald Trump didn’t hold back in his speech at the California GOP convention, launching repeated attacks against Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) while barely mentioning his top 2024 Republican rival, Gov.⁢ Ron DeSantis (R-FL).

Trump didn’t waste any time in criticizing ‌Newsom, who has become a key⁣ surrogate ​for President⁣ Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. The crowd of Republicans erupted in ⁢loud boos as⁤ Trump mocked Newsom’s tenure as mayor of San Francisco.

But⁣ it wasn’t just Newsom who faced Trump’s wrath. The former president also took aim ⁤at other ‌California Democrats, including Rep. Maxine Waters, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. Adam Schiff.

However, the lack of repeated attacks against DeSantis is a clear indication that Trump ⁢is shifting his focus beyond the GOP primary and positioning himself as a general ⁣election nominee.

Trump’s Criticisms of Newsom

Trump didn’t hold back when it came to Newsom’s role in the recent Republican National Convention debate. He accused Newsom‌ of being​ crooked Joe Biden’s top surrogate,⁢ suggesting that Newsom‌ doesn’t believe Biden will make it.

Trump also highlighted Newsom’s appearance on ⁤Sean Hannity’s show, ⁢where he claimed that Newsom described California as “wonderful.” Trump countered by stating‍ that ​the state is currently in a ‍mess.

Furthermore, Trump criticized Newsom’s support of environmental⁢ issues, accusing him and the radical left⁣ Democrats of prioritizing the ⁣protection of an unimportant fish over the needs of the people.

DeSantis’s Late Mention

It took Trump over 75 ​minutes into his speech⁤ to mention DeSantis. He boasted about beating the governor ⁣in national polls and shared an anecdote about ⁤endorsing DeSantis’s first gubernatorial bid, referring to ‍him derisively as “Ron DeSanctimonious.”

Trump’s Dominance in Polls

Trump’s strong lead in national polling was evident, with him consistently polling over 40 percentage points⁢ ahead ⁤of his Republican competitors. ‌According to a RealClearPolitics poll average, he currently enjoys 57.1% of ⁢GOP support, while DeSantis trails at 14%.

DeSantis’s Criticisms of Trump

Interestingly, DeSantis has been increasingly critical⁣ of Trump in recent months.⁤ He took shots at⁣ the former president during the debate, questioning ​his leadership and ‌decision to skip the event for the second time.

DeSantis’s Campaign Pushback

DeSantis’s campaign and super PAC Never Back Down have ‍also pushed back against California’s GOP changing delegate allocation rules, which they believe would benefit Trump. The new rule awards all 169 delegates‍ to the candidate who receives over 50% of the primary​ vote, the highest delegate count in any state.

Trump’s Convention Highlights

During‌ his convention speech, Trump received multiple standing ovations for his ⁤controversial stances, including⁤ opposition to transgender children, support for shooting looters, a promise to ban vaccine mandates, and his unwavering support ⁤of Second Amendment rights.

Trump and DeSantis at the GOP Convention

Both Trump and DeSantis are among the⁢ four candidates speaking at the GOP convention. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) also addressed⁢ the convention on ⁣Friday, while entrepreneur ​Vivek Ramaswamy ‍is scheduled to speak on Saturday.