Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday asked whether former President Trump was seeking a second term in the White House to fulfill his personal retribution against his perceived enemies or to help improve the future of everyday Americans.<\/p>\n
When asked on on NBC\u2019s \u2018Meet the Press\u2019\u00a0about Trump campaigning on promises to get back at his enemies, DeSantis challenged the former president with a single question: \u2018Why are you running?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018If he\u2019s running for personal retribution, that is not going to lead to what we need as a country,\u2019 the governor said. \u2018You got to be running for the American people and their issues, not about your own personal issues. And that is a distinction between us. I am focused on the folks. I am focused on what they want to see done for this country in a positive direction. I\u2019m the vessel, but ultimately, it\u2019s not about me.\u2019<\/p>\n
DeSantis was responding to a question from anchor Kristen Welker about Trump campaigning on promises \u2018to jail his political enemies\u2019 and whether he condemns the use of the term \u2018vermin\u2019 that Trump used to refer to his political opponents.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don\u2019t use the term,\u2019 DeSantis said \u2018But what I don\u2019t do is play the media\u2019s game where I\u2019m asked to referee other people. He\u2019s responsible for his words. He\u2019s responsible for his conduct. I\u2019m responsible for mine.\u2019<\/p>\n
DeSantis claimed that the U.S. government is \u2018out of control\u2019 through the \u2018weaponization\u2019 of the FBI, IRS and Department of Justice, a claim that Trump has also made.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m going to end that weaponization,\u2019 DeSantis said. \u2018But that\u2019s not because I\u2019m doing it for me. It\u2019s because I\u2019m doing it for the people that have been under the thumb of these agencies, and I\u2019m going to restore the rule of law.\u2019<\/p>\n