Trump adviser Chris LaCivita blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over his speculation into former President Trump’s search for a vice presidential candidate, dubbing the former GOP rival a “sad little man.”
DeSantis told supporters during a call Wednesday that Trump should not play “identity politics” with his vice president pick, NBC News reported, after the former president finalized a shortlist for his ticket.
“Chicken fingers and pudding cups is what you will be remembered for you sad little man,” LaCivita said Wednesday in a dig at DeSantis on X, formerly Twitter.
The remarks referenced embarrassing moments from DeSantis’s presidential campaign this year, which failed to deliver on lofty expectations in a challenge to Trump.
DeSantis endorsed Trump for president after he dropped out of the primary race, but he was notably critical of the former president in the call, NBC News reported.
Trump’s campaign responded by putting DeSantis down again and brushing off his concerns.
“Ron DeSantis failed miserably in his presidential campaign and does not have a voice in selecting the next vice president of the United States,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told NBC. “Rather than throw cheap shots from afar, Ron should focus on what he can do to fire [President] Joe Biden and Make America Great Again.”
Trump’s vice president shortlist includes three former GOP candidates: Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and DeSantis. He also confirmed Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who served in Congress as a Democrat but has since shifted to more conservative views, are in the running.
The former president confirmed Tuesday that “they are” on his shortlist but did not provide a timeline for when he will announce his vice presidential pick. He said, “All of those people are good. They’re all solid.”