One of the biggest takeaways from the early parts of the GOP primary is that former President Donald Trump is the candidate favored by the establishment, and that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is the one the establishment wants to destroy.
Trump rode his anti-establishment credentials through the primary and general elections in 2016, capitalizing on the mood of both the GOP and the entire country. But he is now the favorite GOP candidate of both the GOP establishment and the Democratic establishment, and you don’t need to look far to see proof.
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Trump is sending several surrogates to the GOP primary debate on Wednesday to advocate for him in the spin room. That includes GOP members of Congress, Arizona governor loser Kari Lake, and his own son. Trump’s surrogates will be allowed to participate despite the fact that Trump himself is going to blow off the debate and hold his own event, a luxury that wouldn’t be afforded to any other candidate.
It isn’t hard to see why Trump is getting the special treatment. He endorsed Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel earlier this year despite her abysmal performance on the job. McDaniel even now continues to go on television and pretend Trump isn’t slapping the RNC in the face with his debate boycott. Trump also endorsed Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and has been endorsed by Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines (R-MT).
A former president who endorsed
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) August 21, 2023
the current speaker of the house and current head of the RNC and signed Paul Ryan's tax plan and shut the country down for Anthony Fauci is the establishment. I know, you don't care. https://t.co/z5W2n3zVPB
DeSantis, meanwhile, is being targeted by GOP members of Congress Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) ahead of the primary debate. Stefanik also endorsed Trump, and is a member of House GOP leadership. In other words, the GOP establishment is closely tied to Trump, while GOP candidates will focus their fire on DeSantis on the debate stage on Wednesday.
The Democratic establishment has made it clear what it thinks as well, with some Democrats even openly cheering for a Trump nomination. Trump’s team and the media have been working hand in hand to beat DeSantis, using the same smears and disingenuous attacks in tandem to try and break his campaign and cement Trump’s hold on the nomination.
Look at CNN using a misleading cut to act really offended about what DeSantis said, as if they have ever cared about defending Trump supporters.
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) August 21, 2023
You guys are being played so hard. https://t.co/WDU48M1FKx
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It is not hard to see why this is the case either. DeSantis has a better chance of winning in swing states such as Arizona and Georgia, which Trump managed to turn blue in 2020. DeSantis has a better chance of beating Biden, especially given that Trump already lost to Biden. And Trump did not “drain the Swamp” as he promised in his first term, so why would “the Swamp” or “the Deep State” be afraid of him now, knowing he is all talk and won’t follow through in the way they fear DeSantis will?
It is not 2016 anymore. The GOP establishment is in Trump’s corner now and is actively trying to boost him over DeSantis (and the other candidates). Democrats, partisan federal bureaucrats, and the media all fear that DeSantis is actually competent enough to beat them in 2024 and then roll back their power and influence once elected. They don’t fear Trump because they’ve seen him fail to do either. Trump is the establishment choice in 2024, and DeSantis is the one the establishment wants to destroy the most.