DeSantis Trashes 'Brandon Administration' at CPAC Conference, Bolstering Speculation of 2024 Run

The annual convention, which is taking place from Thursday through Sunday, is bringing together conservative activists and prominent politicians from across the country ahead of this year's midterm elections.

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida attacked President Joe Biden during his CPAC speech on Thursday night, ahead of former President Donald Trump's address expected on Saturday.

"There's one fellow that just hates Florida and his name is Joe Biden," DeSantis stressed in a rather energetic 20-minute speech, adding that "the Brandon administration," which is what he called the White House in a reference to the popular anti-Biden chant, hates the state because it is led by Republicans.

Prior to this claim, DeSantis touted Florida for its "freedom," noting that people are coming to the state because of it.

DeSantis also said, in reference to Biden, that "he's always criticizing us, always trying to take pot shots at Florida...He doesn't like Florida, and he doesn't like me because we stand up to him."

DeSantis: “Joe Biden Doesn’t Like Florida and Doesn’t Like Me Because We Stand Up to Him”. #BidenIsAFailure #BidenIsADisgrace #DeSantis2024 #DeSantis #CPAC #CPAC2022 pic.twitter.com/xahLiWRme6

— The Republican TikToker (@thereptiktoker) February 26, 2022

DeSantis ticked through steps he has taken, from banning critical race theory in schools, transgender women in sports, to his pandemic stances against mask mandates and vaccine requirements.

"We did it when it wasn't popular," he said. "We did it when we were taking fire."

And in recent months, DeSantis and Biden have sparred over coronavirus medicines and the use of monoclonal antibody treatment in Florida. The governor also touted his efforts against COVID-19 to keep his state from devolving into a "Faucian dystopia."

Gov. DeSantis: "Had Florida not led the way, this country could look like Canada or Australia." pic.twitter.com/JWH33vk5TU

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 24, 2022

As usual, the governor mentioned the ongoing migrant crisis at the southern US border, reinstating his pledge to send migrants to Biden's home state if the federal government decides to charter them to Florida.

"If Biden is dumping illegal aliens into the state of Florida, I'm rerouting them to Delaware," he said.

It is a line DeSantis has used regularly in recent months, and he received a considerable amount of applause for it at CPAC.

GOV. DESANTIS: "We are in the process of getting money from the legislature so that if Joe Biden is dumping illegal aliens in Florida, I'm re-routing them to Delaware... we'll do some in DC and Hollywood as well." #CPAC pic.twitter.com/YaBp26T8hG

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) February 24, 2022

However, some observers noted that the governor never mentioned the man to whom he owes his 2018 triumph, Donald Trump.

The former president, who will speak at CPAC on Saturday, is still the GOP's most popular figure and, should he decide to run again in 2024, the most likely nominee. And DeSantis, who is up for reelection in November, is one of only a few Republicans that has avoided declaring that he will not run against Trump in a primary, a source of tension in their relationship recently.

In most surveys looking at the likely GOP contenders in 2024, DeSantis comes in second to Trump.

Trump has recently taken notice of DeSantis' rapid ascent in Republican politics. Trump has reportedly privately grumbled that DeSantis, a former protege, has not done enough to quell rumors about his political future in the months leading up to this year's largest conservative gathering. And some experts figure that DeSantis and Trump's bookend appearances as prime-time headliners do shine a light on the potential tensions between the former president and the governor.