With the intention of highlighting his presidential campaign, Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) sat down for an interview but was forced to first talk about his most notable Republican primary opponent, former President Donald Trump.
The interview that aired on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper also saw DeSantis’s interview be pushed back later in the show to make room for a political panel to discuss news about when Trump's classified documents trial might begin, in addition to Trump’s announcement that he expects to be indicted for a third time.
REPUBLICANS BLAST DOE GAS STOVE PROPOSAL AS 'ALARMING VIOLATION' OF LAW
“Your chief competitor, the front-runner right now, Donald Trump, says he was informed that he is the target of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and Mr. Trump has until Thursday to report to the grand jury,” Tapper said to begin the interview with DeSantis. “If Jack Smith has evidence of criminality, should Donald Trump be held accountable?”
DeSantis responded to first say that “the country is going down the road of criminalizing political differences, and I think that’s wrong.” He then used the question to say there is a need to “restore a single standard of justice to end weaponization of [federal] agencies.”
“As president, my job is to restore a single standard of justice, to end weaponization of these agencies,” DeSantis said. “We’re going to have a new FBI director on day one. We’re going to have big changes at the Department of Justice. Americans across the political spectrum need to have confidence that what is going on is based on the rule of law, not based on what political tribe you’re in.”
DeSantis suggested he would be the better Republican nominee so the 2024 election is not focused on the past.
“I don’t think it serves us good to have a presidential election focused on what happened four years ago, in January,” he added. “So, I want to focus on looking forward.”
The Florida governor did, however, offer his support for Trump.
“I do not want to see him. I hope he doesn’t get charged. I don’t think it will be good for the country,” he said.
CNN's treatment of DeSantis's interview did not go unnoticed, drawing shock across social media.
"CNN has paused the DeSantis interview after about four min to discuss not one but TWO of Trump's legal cases. For what? 10 min now? And what was the topic of first Qs for DeSantis? Trump's legal case," one Twitter user wrote.
CNN has paused the DeSantis interview after about four min to discuss not one but TWO of Trump's legal cases. For what? 10 min now? And what was the topic of first Qs for DeSantis? Trump's legal case... pic.twitter.com/N7KVDWzcfl
— Rob Crilly (@robcrilly) July 18, 2023
Another tweeted: "Ron DeSantis' CNN interview has been pushed back later in the hour bc of 1) reaction to Donald Trump's pending third indictment, 2) update from FL about Donald Trump's second indictment, and 3) breaking news about the Michigan attorney general charging the fake Trump electors."
Ron DeSantis' CNN interview has been pushed back later in the hour bc of 1) reaction to Donald Trump's pending third indictment, 2) update from FL about Donald Trump's second indictment, and 3) breaking news about the Michigan attorney general charging the fake Trump electors.
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) July 18, 2023
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
CNN broke away from DeSantis’s interview for more than 20 minutes before returning to air the rest.
On Tuesday, Trump revealed he received a target letter from special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, indicating a third indictment is likely. Trump said he will need to appear before the grand jury within four days.