Ron DeSantis’ D.C. charm offensive was a massive failure

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ trip to Washington, D.C., this week clearly didn’t go as planned.

DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential contender, may have anticipated a coronation of sorts during the visit. He met with lawmakers from around the country on Tuesday, portraying himself as a GOP standard-bearer as his staff tried to shore up his support among conservatives. 

But the coronation quickly became a clown show and exposed DeSantis in some embarrassing ways. Here’s how it all unfolded. 

It all started with a storm

The political impact of DeSantis’ trip was dampened from the beginning. Following torrential rain and flooding in Fort Lauderdale last week, the city’s mayor did DeSantis no favors when he said during a news conference that the governor hadn’t yet contacted him. DeSantis was in Ohio on a book tour stop — not a great look.

Fort Lauderdale, FL had record-breaking flooding last night.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor: “Governor DeSantis has not yet called.”

Where is Ron DeSantis?

He's in Ohio.https://t.co/A6FUpFradr

— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) April 13, 2023

And DeSantis’ political opponents, including many backers of former President Donald Trump, used the opportunity to paint the governor as a self-centered political climber. 

By the time DeSantis arrived in Washington, his travels had already been widely panned by Democrats and Republicans alike. 

Then came the rodent problem

Things got worse for DeSantis on the public relations front as he tried to save face in his self-initiated feud with Disney. To refresh your memory, DeSantis vowed to strip the company of its special tax status last year, after its executives expressed opposition to a bill by Florida Republicans banning classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. At the time, the bill barred such lessons through third grade; however, the Florida Board of Education voted Wednesday to expand the ban to apply to all grades.

But Disney and local officials in Florida devised a workaround that allowed the company to retain much of the privileges it had before DeSantis’ illiberal power grab. 

So DeSantis vowed vengeance against Mickey Mouse and friends. And he did that in one of the most sinister ways possible on Monday: by floating the idea of building a prison next to Disney World.

“I just think the possibilities are endless,” DeSantis said with a grin.

While ramping up his fight against Disney, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) relays a suggestion to build a “state prison” next to Disney World. pic.twitter.com/qaYdt8SszB

— The Recount (@therecount) April 17, 2023

This was DeSantis doubling down on a crusade that’s earned him criticism from many Republicans — including Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and even some Republican megadonors.

It was yet another example of DeSantis’ extremism taking Republicans down a politically precarious path, and fuel for those who’ve questioned his readiness for the presidency.

Spurned advances

Amid intraparty fighting over the possibility that he could jump into the 2024 race, DeSantis held a meet-and-greet for lawmakers on Tuesday. And by most accounts, the response was lukewarm. 

DeSantis garnered praise from some of his supporters in Congress — like Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chip Roy of Texas. But there’s little indication DeSantis is usurping Trump’s favor within the Republican Party by and large. 

Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, drove this point home when he announced his support for Trump … shortly after leaving DeSantis’ meet-and-greet. 

A big “thanks but no thanks” to Florida’s governor. 

Today, after careful consideration and a positive meeting with Governor DeSantis, I have decided to endorse President @realDonaldTrump for 2024.

I look forward to fighting alongside him to reclaim our country from the leftist forces trying to destroy it. pic.twitter.com/WqMNKxv6hV

— Lance Gooden (@Lancegooden) April 18, 2023

Gooden’s announcement continued DeSantis’ political tailspin. As NBC News reported, while the governor was in Washington, Trump was “running up the score with endorsements in DeSantis’ own backyard.” Multiple Florida lawmakers have already endorsed Trump’s 2024 campaign, including three who made their announcements on Tuesday, during DeSantis’ visit. Last week, NBC News reported DeSantis’ team was hoping to avoid this scenario. 

No luck. 

And the DeSantis pile-on continues, with Trump mocking him all the while. 

Following her report that Florida Rep. Greg Steube was backing Trump’s campaign, Politico reporter Rachel Bade on Wednesday shared more excerpts from her conversation with Steube:

"After 5 years of being in Congress, after multiple attempts to reach out to DeSantis & talk about policy… in the state of Florida, suddenly last week, in the DeSantis Camp, it seems, the panic button was hit. For the first time ever I hear from Desantis's political person."

— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) April 19, 2023

Steube then bashed DeSantis for traveling across the country while the Florida Legislature is in session, according to Bade.

“Floridians want him focused on Florida,” he said, “which is the job they elected him to do.”