Politics

Gaetz pines for unity between Trump and DeSantis: ‘Hate when mom and dad fight’

By
Ryan King
Published Jan. 21, 2024, 3:55 p.m. ET
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MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — Firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz made a plea for Republican unity while bemoaning the feud between former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during the 2024 cycle.

Speaking to a crowd of Trump supporters in his New Hampshire campaign headquarters, Gaetz (R-Fla.) lamented the beef between the duo when asked by an attendee whether the party can achieve unity after a bruising primary season.

“I think that is the question. I’m glad you were first. It’s the operative question because we can’t win if we’re divided,” Gaetz replied during a press open house.

“We already have the big media against us, big tech, big government, a lot of the big donors and big businesses,” he went on. “If we do unite, there are still more of us.”

His remarks came before DeSantis dropped out and endorsed Trump Sunday.

Gaetz quickly endorsed Trump over his home state governor in the 2024 GOP battle for the party nod.

Trump and DeSantis chafed bitterly on the campaign trail, with the 45th president hurling a slew of negative criticisms toward the governor.

Matt Gaetz and Ruth Drexel stand in front of signs in a room at Trump HQ in Manchester, NH shown in an image posted by Karoline Leavitt on Twitter.
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz called for unity between former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. @kleavittnh/Twitter
Ron DeSantis speaking into a microphone wearing a suit at a watch party during the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses.
Gaetz’s comments came shortly before DeSantis dropped out of the 2024 presidential race. Photo by CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA/AFP via Getty Images

Recently, Trump has begun to focus his slings and arrows on his former US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley.

DeSantis had initially insisted that he would stay in the race through the South Carolina primary on Feb. 24.

“I remember the good old days when I was Ron DeSantis’ transition chairman and he and President Trump worked so well together,” Gatez, a top surrogate to Trump, told supporters.

“I hate when mom and dad fight.”

Matt Gaetz questions Alejandro Mayorkas during a hearing at House Judiciary Committee, Washington DC.
Gaetz compared the primary race between DeSantis and Trump to parents fighting. Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Former President Donald Trump wearing a suit and tie appears at a campaign event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 2024.
DeSantis endorsed Trump after suspending his campaign. AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Gaetz used the open house to urge Trump backers to stay focused on New Hampshire.

“They’ll try to get the Democrats out and Bernie Sanders could vote in the New Hampshire primary for Nikki Haley. I bet he probably would,” he quipped.

Trump is up in the Granite State with 50.3%, followed by Haley at 34%, per the latest RealClearPolitics aggregate.

New Hampshire’s contest will take place next Tuesday.