Why DeSantis should serve in the Trump administration
by Dana Loesch · The Washington TimesOPINION:
Last week, the rumor mill lurched into overdrive at the whispers that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis could join the Trump administration after his term ends in January.
Why shouldn’t he, if President Trump asks for him?
Mr. DeSantis is the most successful conservative governor in modern American history and a blueprint for every Republican governor to follow (if they have the spine), even in the face of a moderate Republican supermajority in the state legislature.
Under Mr. DeSantis’ leadership, Florida went from a purple swing state to a reliably red powerhouse.
Mr. DeSantis has delivered on nearly every major policy proposal as promised. He campaigned to fight the red flag laws of his predecessor, Rick Scott, kept the state open during COVID-19 (even siccing his legal team on local leaders that dared shut down), tripled the Republican voter registration lead, lowered taxes, empowered parents, humbled Disney, deported illegal immigrants, built “Alligator Alcatraz” and fixed the state’s heinously Democratic-gerrymandered map.
The only exceptions have been those blocked by weaker, left-leaning lawmakers in Tallahassee.
He did all this while fighting the left and also the Republican praetorian guard, which jealously guards access to the administration because its collective financial lifeline depends on it.
Sure, the primary was overly contentious, but we’re all over it. I question the character and motivation of those who are not.
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Mr. Trump has been an extraordinary leader for America, particularly in foreign policy. He and Mr. DeSantis reportedly get along so well now that they regularly go golfing. The media won’t mention this, and neither will the Republican gatekeepers, because Mr. Trump wants the division and Mr. DeSantis values his proximity to influence more than he values love of country.
A CNN piece recently noted that Mr. DeSantis is still hated by some within Mr. Trump’s inner advisory circle. So? We didn’t elect them. We elected Mr. Trump.
If Mr. Trump decides he wants Mr. DeSantis in an administration role, then Mr. Trump should get him, because he is the president and they are not. Mr. Trump, like Theoden of Rohan in “The Lord of the Rings,” doesn’t need any Grima Wormtongues in his ear, whispering sweet words of poison that will ultimately hurt Republicans.
Some have floated Mr. DeSantis for the Supreme Court as a potential replacement for Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Although Mr. DeSantis is certainly qualified for that role, I think he would be restless and unfulfilled in it. It would be an enormous waste of his talent to cloister him up in a robe on the bench right now.
This guy has successfully balanced numerous irons in the fire and simultaneously battled both the left and the moderate right within his legislature. A Supreme Court nomination seems nothing more than an easy way to get Mr. DeSantis out of the arena because his success serving Mr. Trump’s administration would likely dim the ambitions of others.
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All the palace drama is stupid. The commander in chief himself is over it, and Mr. DeSantis is over it. Anyone who thinks that performative sycophancy by opposing the most successful conservative governor in the nation is better than scoring real wins might be too idiotic to function.
The administration will need some real pipe hitters over the next two years, especially if predictions that the Republicans will lose the House come true. Democrats are already sharpening their knives politically.
It’s time for Republicans to double down on our strengths, elevate our strongest lawmakers and fortify our weak points. If you don’t want the best options in the administration to advance constitutional interests in government, then reassess whether your interests are for self or country.
It’s hard to be MAGA when you put “me” first.
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• Dana Loesch is the host of the No. 1 nationally syndicated weekday talk program, “Dana Show,” a bestselling author and a Second Amendment advocate. She lives in Dallas.