Florida resident Donald Trump flinched on being told that GOP rising star Ron DeSantis governed him

Donald Trump flinched when he was reminded during an interview that his main Republican rival, Ron DeSantis ‘governs’ him while the ex-president resides at his Florida country club, a journalist claimed.

In a lengthy profile for New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi, said Trump seemed uncomfortable with the phrase ‘governed by’ and emphasized that he did not like the idea of being under the rule of another person. 

‘Well, I live in Florida,’ he said, ‘but you know, when you say ‘governed by’ him …’ Trump appeared to flinch.

Nuzzi has described the campaign for president as a ‘sad, lonely, thirsty, broken, basically pretend run for reelection.’ 

Trump, 76, appears to be living in near seclusion except occasionally appearing before adoring guests at Mar a Lago just six weeks after his 2024 campaign was announced.

Donald Trump, 76, has been featured in a lengthy profile where he is portrayed as ‘sad, lonely, thirsty’ in what is a ‘pretend run for reelection’

Trump, 76, appears to be living in near seclusion except occasionally appearing before adoring guests at Mar a Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, pictured above 

Nuzzi noted he has an obsession with the 1950 film Sunset Boulevard, a movie about a fading star desperate to retain past glory but he also appears to take credit for DeSantis’ success. 

Trump shared a story about how DeSantis sought his endorsement during his campaign for governor. 

‘I’ve always gotten along with him,’ Trump said noting how he had been ‘losing by a tremendous margin’ when he ‘came and asked for my endorsement’. 

However, in his most recent campaign for governor, DeSantis did not visit Trump and still won by a large margin.  

Trump shared a story about how DeSantis sought his endorsement during his campaign for governor. However, in his most recent campaign for governor, DeSantis did not visit Trump and still won by a large margin

Trump also criticized the establishment politicians within the Republican Party, stating that they had run the party into the wilderness before his unexpected victories in the 2016 primary and general elections. 

Trump believes that the party did not fully appreciate his contributions and only won because of his popularity. He said that he does not think anyone can beat him in a primary election and that his announcement for his third presidential campaign was considered to be a success.

On Friday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Trump ‘diminished’ saying he deserved the blame for the GOP’s poor performance in November.  

McConnell said Trump’s candidates in the midterm elections contributed to the idea  the GOP is ‘sort of nasty and tended toward chaos.’

‘Here’s what I think has changed: I think the former president’s political clout has diminished. We can do a better job with less potential interference. The former president may have other things to do,’ McConnell said to NBC News suggesting Trump should not interfere during the 2024 primaries.

Trump’s announcement to run came just days after the midterms in which many of the candidates which he endorsed had failed to deliver.

Over the course of the midterm elections he endorsed over 330 candidates, held 30 rallies and raised millions of dollars but it ended up being a night of missed opportunities and disappointments.

The failures included some of his biggest names including reality TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz who was running for a senate seat in Pennsylvania.

Nuzzi describes Trump officials as him blaming his wife Melania for his decision to back Oz. 

‘He’s like, ‘She has no political instincts!” a former White House official said.

One adviser summed up Trump’s lackluster performance at his campaign announcement and subsequent lack of enthusiasm in recent weeks as the magic he once held simply being gone with even members of his family failing to show up.

One adviser explained that only daughter-in-law Lara Trump, Eric’s wife, wanted him to run

‘It’s not there. In this business, you can have it and have it so hot and it can go overnight and it’s gone and you can’t get it back. I think we’re just seeing it’s gone. The magic is gone,’ the adviser explained, adding that only daughter-in-law Lara Trump wanted him to run.

‘There’s nobody around him who wants him to do it. Forget Jared and Ivanka — Don Jr. doesn’t want him to do it! The only person who wants him to do it is Eric’s wife, Lara, because she’s so ambitious.’ 

‘When Seb Gorka and Raheem Kassam and Kash Patel and Devin Nunes are your stars, that’s the D-list. It was D-list MAGA. When Brick Man — that freak, Brick Man — is in the VIP seating, we’ve got a problem.’

The Brick Man is a man who wears a suit covered in a brick pattern, representing the wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. He was seen roaming around the ballroom, granting interviews to reporters.

‘If you’re looking for an indication of how bad things are going,’ the adviser added, ‘it’s Brick Man not just being there but being in the VIP section. Don Jr.’s not there!’

‘If you’re looking for an indication of how bad things are going,’ a Trump adviser added, ‘it’s Brick Man not just being there but being in the VIP section. Don Jr.’s not there!’

During her profile Nuzzi tells how Trump had always wanted to be in the movie industry and frequently watches Sunset Boulevard. 

The film tells the story of a former silent film star who slow goes mad and is in denial about her fading fame.

Trump has shown the film to various people in the past, including his press secretary Stephanie Grisham and biographer Tim O’Brien. 

During a screening with O’Brien, Trump reportedly leaned over and whispered about how incredible a scene in the film was where Norma Desmond vows to return to her glory days.

‘Those idiot producers. Those imbeciles! Haven’t they got any eyes? Have they forgotten what a star looks like? I’ll show them. I’ll be up there again, so help me!,’ she rants. 

Trump appears to clearly identify with the character’s desire to regain fame and success. 

Nuzzi also cites a number of theories as to why Donald Trump has decided to run for president once again, despite losing the election in disgrace and causing the Republican Party to lose in the midterms. 

One theory is that he craves attention and fears boredom. 

There are a number of theories as to why Trump has decided to run for president once again, despite losing the election in disgrace and causing the Republican Party to lose in the midterms

‘I think I’ve always been relevant. Like, I’ve been relevant from a very young age. I’ve been in the mix, to be honest,’ Trump explained. 

Another theory is that he is trying to avoid potential arrest by prosecutors, who may be hesitant to pursue charges against an active presidential candidate. 

Trump denies that this strategy has played a role in his decision to run. He also denies that his lawyers suggested this as a game plan.

‘That didn’t play into it,’ Trump said. ‘I did nothing wrong. I don’t know how you get indicted if you’ve done nothing wrong. I’ve done nothing wrong.’ 

Nuzzi notes Trump repeated the phrase ‘I’ve done nothing wrong’ nine times in the space of 30 minutes. 

Trump has faced mounting legal pressure recently, with the January 6 committee referring him for criminal charges and the House Ways and Means Committee planning to release his tax returns. 

Despite this, Trump maintains that he has ‘done nothing wrong.’ 

He has also appears keen to point out his positive relationship with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, recalling how DeSantis sought his endorsement during his campaign.

A recent poll shows DeSantis beating Trump in a potential matchup 52 to 38 percent.