Desantis stuck over how to win without upsetting Trump fans

LEAKED video footage shows Ron Desantis, the Florida governor, struggling with how he can take on Donald Trump without “p------ off ” the former president’s voters.

The 44-year-old is seen as Mr Trump’s strongest challenger for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He has faced a verbal onslaught from Mr Trump, who has nicknamed him “Ron De-sanctimonious”, amid speculation he could declare his candidacy as soon as next month.

Mr Desantis has battled with how to counter Mr Trump, 76, and set himself apart from his rival without angering his Make America Great Again base, which will play a pivotal role in deciding the GOP primary contest.

A video of Mr Desantis preparing for a debate in 2018, when he first ran for governor, shows him grappling with the same issue.

In footage leaked to ABC News, Matt Gaetz, a hardline Republican congressman, is seen helping Mr Desantis prepare. Mr Gaetz asks him if he disagreed with Mr Trump on any issue.

Mr Desantis breathes deeply and replies: “I have to figure out how to do this.” He goes on to say: “Obviously there is because, I mean, I voted contrary to him in the Congress.”

He added: “I have to frame it in a way that’s not going to p--- off all his voters.” In the videos, Mr Desantis and his team also grapple with his “likeability issues” – a weak point Mr Trump has seized on.

At one point, an aide suggests Mr Desantis writes the word “LIKEABLE” in capitals at the top of his notebook when he gets to the debate stage to remind him not to appear abrasive in his responses.

Mr Desantis has boosted his national profile by enthusiastically promoting America’s culture wars.

The self-proclaimed “anti-woke” governor attracted an early flurry of interest from donors and Republican strategists looking for an alternative to Mr Trump.