Gov. Kevin Stitt on Trump criticism: ‘DeSantis is the right guy,’ can beat Biden and serve eight years
Julia Johnson
Video Embed
Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-OK) responded on Thursday to criticism from former President Donald Trump over his endorsement of his rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), for president in 2024.
“I voted for Trump in ’16 and 2020, but I really believe Ron DeSantis is the right guy that, No. 1, can beat Joe Biden in November, and when he does beat Joe Biden, he can be there for eight years,” Stitt told Neil Cavuto on Fox Business.
BIDEN BETS THAT THE BEST WAY TO BEAT TRUMP IS TO REMAIN SILENT ON THE INDICTMENT
Stitt endorsed DeSantis during an event in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday. The endorsement is DeSantis’s first from a fellow governor.
Afterward, Trump responded in a post to Truth Social.
iFrame Object
The former president recalled getting a phone call from Stitt, asking for his endorsement before his most recent election because he was allegedly in “big trouble.”
“I LOVE Oklahoma & won 77 out of 77 Counties, something that never happened before. Ronald Reagan was next with 56,” said Trump. “Anyway, I gave him my endorsement, he immediately went way up, and won.”
“Now, despite the fact that DeSanctimonious is losing to Biden, & me, Stitt just endorsed him. Wow! He disliked ‘the Indians’ & my great Senate pick!” he continued.
Asked if he let Trump know of his endorsement plans prior, Stitt said, “No, I have not talked to him about it.”
He added that Trump was aware of his intention due to a mutual friend, who he noted is a senator. “But no, I did not call him to tell him I was going to make that endorsement,” he said.
According to the Oklahoma governor, he did call Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA), who is the chairwoman of the Republican Governors Association.
Addressing Trump’s reaction, Stitt said, “I think that’s the same message he sends when anybody goes against him.”
“He says, ‘Hey, I’m the reason that they won,'” he added.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Stitt then explained, “He didn’t endorse me the first time. Didn’t know who I was in 2018 when I ran for governor.”
Despite endorsing Trump’s biggest rival in the primary, Stitt told Cavuto he will support the Republican nominee for president.