Rep. Ken Buck, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, on Sunday offered unsolicited advice to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate: Don’t try to “outdo Donald Trump.”
“There’s no one who … operates in the same area as Donald Trump,” Buck, a Republican from Colorado, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I think Ron DeSantis has a strong record of accomplishments in Florida when he was dealing with COVID and other areas, and I think those are the things he should be running on.”
Since Mr. DeSantis formally launched his bid for the White House in 2024 last month, he has become increasingly willing to direct his campaign rhetoric against Mr. Trump, once a close ally who helped him propel into the governor’s mansion.
Mr Buck did not endorse any of the Republican presidential candidates, stressing that he is ready to stand down for others like former UN ambassador Nikki Haley or Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.
“But I think he – Ron – should do his best to build on his strong record as governor,” Mr Buck said.