Trump vows to build 'new and spectacular building' for FBI, DeSantis turns the table on former president



Former President Donald Trump vowed to build a "new and spectacular building" for the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took one of Trump's most popular MAGA rallying cries and weaponized it against the former president.

On Saturday afternoon, Trump declared that he not only wants to keep the FBI headquartered in Washington, D.C., but also wants to construct a "new and spectacular building" for the government agency.

The FBI Headquarters should not be moved to a far away location, but should stay right where it is, in a new and spectacular building, in the best location in our now crime ridden and filthy dirty, graffiti scarred, Capital. They should be involved in bringing back D.C., not running away from it, especially the violent crime. An important part of my platform for President is to bring back, restore, and rebuild Washington, D.C., into the “crown jewel” of our Nation. We will make it crime free and GREAT AGAIN. The FBI should not be fleeing for safer, yet much less convenient, environs. It should make where they are now the safest place on earth! DON’T MOVE THE FBI!

DeSantis used Trump's own Make America Great slogan against him to turn the tables on his FBI building promise.

"Donald Trump failed to drain the swamp, so perhaps it is not surprising that he is seeking to deepen the swamp by building a massive new FBI building in D.C.," DeSantis responded on the X social media platform. "Actually draining swamp requires taking power out of D.C., not cementing power inside D.C."

DeSantis targeted Trump during a town hall in Manchester, New Hampshire.

"NO! That’s part of the problem with the FBI. They’ve become overrun with D.C. politics — you need to take it out of D.C. Take power out of there – that’s how you drain the swamp," DeSantis declared.

"I'm taking power out of D.C., you're going to have a reduction in the size of government, but also in the scope of government," DeSantis stated.

— (@)

Trump's promise to keep the FBI in the nation's capital is in complete contrast to DeSantis – who wants to relocate government agencies out of Washington, D.C.

In February, DeSantis proposed that federal agencies be relocated outside of D.C. to counter the "accumulation of power" in the nation’s capital.

"Too much power has accumulated in D.C. and the result is a detached administrative state that rules over us and imposes its will on us," DeSantis said in an interview with the New York Post. "While there are a host of things that need to be done to re-constitutionalize government, parceling out federal agencies to other parts of the country could help reduce the negative effects of this accumulation of power."

In August, DeSantis proclaimed that he wanted to slash the size of federal agencies by half, including relocating employees out of Washington, D.C.

"Some of that will be reduction through attrition as people retire, some of that will be transferring to other parts of the country getting them out of D.C.," DeSantis told CNBC host Brian Sullivan on “Last Call." "Some of it will involve layoffs and using Article II power to do it."

“But the agencies in our government have grown 50 percent since 2019,” the Republican governor explained. "If you look at their funding levels, I don’t think there’s any American that thinks they’re 50 percent better off for those agencies having grown by 50 percent.”

Earlier on Saturday, DeSantis took a shot at his primary opponents of Trump and Nikki Haley.

DeSantis said in the video posted on the X social media platform, "Donald Trump's running for his issues. Haley's running for her donors' issues. I'm running to address your issues."

On Friday while campaigning in Iowa, DeSantis reiterated his commitment to pardoning Trump if he were to be convicted on criminal charges.

"I think we got to move on as a country and, you know, like Ford did to Nixon, because the divisions are just not in the country’s interest," DeSantis answered when asked about pardoning Trump.

When asked again by a reporter, DeSantis replied, "Yeah, I said that months ago."

In July, DeSantis hinted that he would pardon Trump.

“Well, what I’ve said is very simple. I’m going to do what’s right for the country," DeSantis said in an interview with Megyn Kelly. "I don’t think it would be good for the country to have an almost 80-year-old former president go to prison."

When Kelly pressed DeSantis on the pardon, he replied, "It doesn't seem like it would be a good thing. And I look at like, you know, Ford pardoned Nixon, took some heat for it, but at the end of the day, it's like, do we want to move forward as a country? Or do we want to be mired in these past controversies?"

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CBS News poll shows Trump voters trust Trump more than family and religious leaders, indictments have become a rallying factor



Despite former President Donald Trump being entangled in legal woes, the embattled presidential candidate currently holds a commanding lead in the early polls. As it turns out, voters have rallied around Trump because of the multiple indictments, according to new polling.

The survey of 2,061 Americans between Aug. 16 - 18, found that 70% feel things in America today are going "somewhat badly" or "very badly."

On the topic of the 2020 election, 71% of GOP voters do not consider Joe Biden as the "legitimate" winner, according to a new CBS News poll released on Sunday.

When asked to describe the U.S. political system, 64% called it "dysfunctional" and 58% said it was "corrupt," while only 14% called it "effective" and just 7% said it was "honest."

According to the poll, Trump increased his lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over previous polls. Despite the four indictments against Trump, the poll found that 62% of likely Republican primary voters planned to support Trump versus 16% for DeSantis. All of the other GOP candidates are in single digits. In the same poll from June 11, Trump was at 61% and DeSantis was polling at 23%.

Of the potential voters, 38% say that the indictments are "politically motivated" against Trump, compared to 37% who say that Trump tried to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump supporters have an unwavering allegiance to him and trust him more than family, friends, and religious leaders, according to the poll.

Among Trump supporters, 71% feel what Trump tells them is "generally true," showing more trust in the politician than family and friends (63%), conservative media figures (56%), and religious leaders (42%).

Among voters considering voting for Trump, they cite the reasons for supporting him as: "I think things were better under Trump" (99%), "he fights for people like me" (95%), and "I know him better than other candidates" (76%).

Trump decided to skip next week's first Republican presidential primary debate; however, an overwhelming 73% of Republican voters say he should participate in the debate against his GOP competitors.

Regarding the first GOP presidential primary debate that takes place in Milwaukee on Wednesday, 91% of likely Republican primary voters said the candidates should make a case for themselves instead of highlighting Trump's shortcomings.

Republican voters said the issues that are "very important" to them are: lower inflation (86%), reduce violent crime (83%), stop illegal immigration (81%), cut federal spending (74%), stand up to China (73%), stop teaching 'woke' ideas in schools (71%.), and lower taxes (67%).

The poll finds that likely Republican primary voters see Trump of having a 91% chance of possibly or definitely defeating Biden in the 2024 election, compared to DeSantis at 82%.

If Trump is not the Republican presidential candidate, 72% of likely Republican primary voters said they would want a candidate very similar or somewhat similar to Trump.

DeSantis has been the most attacked presidential candidate in the 2024 election – by far. DeSantis has been the target of $20,241,512 million in negative independent expenditures – a quarter of all independent expenditures in the 2024 election cycle. The Trump-supporting super PAC Make America Great Again Inc. spent $20,195,800 against DeSantis.

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Ron DeSantis says he's surprised Donald Trump is attacking him 'from the left,' explains why he's not an 'establishment Republican'



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he is running in the 2024 presidential election on Wednesday, directly challenging former President Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.

Following the announcement of his White House run, DeSantis engaged in a media blitz, including an interview with Glenn Beck about how he would dismantle the deep state.

During an appearance on Newsmax, DeSantis sternly repudiated accusations that he is an "establishment Republican."

DeSantis told Newsmax host Eric Bolling on Thursday:

How many establishment Republicans would have sent illegal aliens to Martha's Vineyard? How many establishment Republicans would have stood up against Disney? How many establishment Republicans would have signed the bill that I just signed to ban land purchases from people affiliated with the CCP in the state of Florida? We're now being sued by the ACLU for that. How many establishment Republicans would have leaned in to support our children against the pronoun Olympics. We banned the pronoun Olympics in our schools, we're the first state to do that. How many establishment Republicans would have banned gender transition surgeries for minors? We not only would take the doctor's medical license, we'll put the doctor in jail if they are mutilating minors. So on every issue, that kind of the old guard of the Republican Party would have shied away from it a New York minute, I'm not only leaning into them, I'm winning against the media and against the left. You know, we say, 'Florida as the place where woke goes to die, because we've defeated the left on all these fronts. And my pledge if I'm elected president after two terms we will leave woke ideology in the dustbin of history.
\u201cThis Ron DeSantis counterpunch to the label "establishment Republican" is pure gold:\n\n"How many establishment Republicans would have sent illegal aliens to Martha's Vineyard? How many establishment Republicans would have stood up against Disney? How many establishment Republicans\u2026\u201d
— Scott Morefield (@Scott Morefield) 1685068012

DeSantis also addressed the barrage of attacks that Trump has levied against him.

I think that some of the things he's been attacking me on, I've been a little surprised at, because he's attacking me from the left, and that really wasn't the Donald Trump from 2015 and 2016. I mean, he was a hard charger leaning in on all the issues very edgy on conservative issues, and it was part of the reason he did so well. But when he's taken Disney's side against me, I just kind of wonder like, okay, I get he wants to hit me, but don't take the side of a multinational corporation that wants to sexualize kids. He's also hitting me against voting against immigration amnesty.

DeSantis said he took an "America first" approach regarding amnesty.

"I'm not sure what his strategy is, but I think he's taking positions that are a little bit different than four or five years ago," he stated.

\u201cRon DeSantis hits back at Trump's attacks: "He's attacking me from the left, and that really wasn't the Donald Trump from 2015 and 2016 ... I get he wants to hit me, but don't take the side of a multinational corporation that wants to sexualize kids."\u201d
— Scott Morefield (@Scott Morefield) 1685065261

DeSantis also accused Trump of "running to the left" during an interview with Tennessee radio host Matt Murphy.

"It seems like he’s running to the left, and I have always been somebody that’s just been moored in conservative principles,” DeSantis said of Trump.

"These will be interesting debates to have, but I can tell you, you don’t win nationally by moving to the left," the Florida governor continued. "You win nationally by standing for bold policy. We showed that in Florida. I never watered down anything I did."

Speaking of the DeSantis campaign announcement on Twitter Spaces with Elon Musk that was temporarily plagued early by technical glitches, Trump declared the event to be a "disaster."

Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Wow! The DeSanctus TWITTER launch is a DISASTER! His whole campaign will be a disaster. WATCH!"

He added, "I know Ron. The way he handled his announcement, he will handle the country!"

Trump also claimed that DeSantis had "zero chance of winning the Republican primary for governor of Florida before a man named President Donald J. Trump endorsed him."

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DeSantis hauls in a record $8.2 million in 24 hours after launching presidential campaign, easily beating Biden and Trump



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hauled in a record $8.2 million in the first 24 hours after launching his presidential campaign.

DeSantis was able to garner millions even though his presidential campaign announcement was blemished by temporary technical difficulties at the start of the Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk, which had nearly 4 million people tune in.

DeSantis easily out-fundraised the past two presidents – who are currently the front-runners in the 2024 race.

"The money raised by DeSantis tops the previous record – the $6.3 million that President Joe Biden hauled in as a White House candidate during the first 24 hours after his campaign launch in 2019," according to Fox News.

Donald Trump raised $9.5 million in his first six weeks after announcing his 2024 candidacy in mid-November. The former Republican president also reportedly raised $7 million in the three days after his indictment in Manhattan.

Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting DeSantis, expects to have an overall budget of at least $200 million – including $80 million transferred from an old DeSantis state political account.

Top officials with Never Back Down believe they can promote DeSantis as "the only candidate to take on — and win — the cultural fights that are definitional for the Republican Party in 2024," according to the New York Times.

The super PAC is preparing to launch a "$100 million voter-outreach push so big it plans to knock on the door of every possible DeSantis voter at least four times in New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina — and five times in the kickoff Iowa caucuses."

Never Back Down plans to hire more than 2,600 field organizers by Labor Day in an attempt to sway Americans to vote for DeSantis in the upcoming Republican primary. The organization – which was established in March by Ken Cuccinelli, a former senior official in Donald Trump's administration – has already started hiring recruits in 18 states.

Never Back Down executive director Chris Jankowski told the Times, "No one has ever contemplated the scale of this organization or operation, let alone done it. This has just never even been dreamed up.”

Never Back Down hired top Republican strategist Jeff Roe, the founder of political consultancy Axiom Strategies and Sen. Ted Cruz's campaign manager in 2016, as well as a close adviser to Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Roe conceded that Trump has been "the leader of a movement," but proclaimed that DeSantis "has the opportunity to be the leader of the party and the movement."

"That is a key difference," Roe stated. "I don’t believe people fundamentally understand that you can be a leader of a movement and not be the leader of your party. Ron DeSantis has the ability to be both. Trump does not."

Regarding defeating Trump, Roe said, "How do you beat Trump? Well, you beat Trump by beating Trump. And where Ron DeSantis has beaten Trump is by doing what Republican voters want him to do the most.”

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Donald Trump launches first attack against potential adversary Ron DeSantis during Pennsylvania rally



Former President Donald Trump took a shot at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday night. Trump – who endorsed DeSantis’ 2018 bid for governor – delivered his first public attack on DeSantis. Trump gave DeSantis one of his trademark nicknames during a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

In what was intended to be a rally to pump up Republican candidates to win critical midterm elections, Trump used the spotlight to attack the Republican governor of Florida.

Trump read polling numbers for favorite Republicans to run for president in the 2024 election, during which he called the Florida governor "Ron DeSanctimonious."

"Trump at 71%, Ron DeSanctimonious at 10%," the former president told the crowd.

Trump was citing a Premise poll of only 512 adults between Sept. 2 and Sept. 5.

\u201c\u201cRon DeSanctimonious\u201d\n\u201d
— Alex Thompson (@Alex Thompson) 1667695265

Longtime Trump ally Roger Stone reportedly used the "Ron DeSanctimonious" nickname in a recent post on Truth Social.

“@realDonaldTrump’s endorsement MADE Ron DeSanctimonius Governor #ingrate,” Stone allegedly wrote.

Several polls show support for both Trump and DeSantis as the 2024 GOP presidential nominee.

The CPAC straw poll taken in February found that Trump was the overwhelming favorite 2024 Republican candidate at 55% versus 21% for DeSantis.

The Granite State Poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center conducted in June revealed that 39% of likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters favor DeSantis over 37% who want Trump to be the GOP presidential nominee in 2024.

A Politico/Morning Consult poll from August said that 58% of registered Republican voters want Trump to be the nominee versus only 16% for DeSantis.

A USA Today/Suffolk University poll taken in September of likely Florida midterm voters showed that 48% would support DeSantis compared to 40% for Trump.

In 2017, then-President Trump gave a glowing endorsement to gubernatorial candidate DeSantis.

Trump wrote on Twitter, "Congressman Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader, Yale and then Harvard Law, who would make a GREAT Governor of Florida. He loves our Country and is a true FIGHTER!"

In June, Trump was asked about making DeSantis his running mate in 2024.

Trump replied, "Well, I get along with him. I was very responsible for his success, because I endorsed him and he went up like a rocket ship."

During Saturday night's rally, Trump hinted that he is running again for president and will make an announcement very soon.

"Now, in order to make our country successful and safe and glorious, I will very, very, very probably do it again, OK? Very, very, very probably. Very, very, very probably," Trump told the crowd. "Get ready, that’s all I’m telling you. Very soon."

There are multiple reports that Trump will announce that he is running in 2024 on Nov. 14.

As for DeSantis, he is leading his Democratic gubernatorial opponent Charlie Crist by 12 points, according to a recent Spectrum News/Siena College poll.

Trump will be in Miami on Sunday to campaign for Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Politico reported, "DeSantis wasn’t invited and didn’t ask to attend. Underscoring the perceived slight, DeSantis’ campaign declared that the governor will tour 13 Florida cities in the remaining days of the 2022 midterms, including three on Sunday, just days after Trump announced his gathering."

A Republican consultant allegedly told the media outlet, "They did not invite Ron, which I do think was stupid. Why not try and avoid the appearance of the fight? But in their defense, I don’t know that he would have come even if he was invited."

Earlier this week, President Joe Biden referred to DeSantis as "Donald Trump incarnate."