Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has recently been more direct in his criticism of President Donald Trump. DeSantis has emphasized the need to keep the U.S. in the international Paris Climate Accord, something Trump withdrew America from in 2017. DeSantis has also pushed for measured approaches to the COVID-19 pandemic and recently pumped the brakes on the reopening of the state’s economy.
These comments and stances represent a marked departure from the President’s views and have the potential to be unpopular among the party faithful. DeSantis finds himself in a strategic bind; on the one hand, a great many of his constituents are supporters of the President, yet on the other, potentially unpopular policies are often the most beneficial in the long run. It remains to be seen how much sway the governor’s administration will have in turning public opinion in Florida for the better.