Gaetz and Donalds support DeSantis amid release of 2018 debate prep videos.

Republican Congressmen Defend Governor DeSantis

Behind-the-Scenes Footage of 2018 Debate Preparation Leaked

Republican Florida Congressmen Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds have come to the defense of their state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, after ABC News released behind-the-scenes footage of his 2018 debate preparation.

The leaked video clips show Gaetz and Donalds coaching DeSantis on how to debate his Democratic opponent, Andrew Gillum. The clips reveal how DeSantis prepared to respond to controversies about past campaign remarks and how to appeal to supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

In one video, DeSantis and his debate preparation team discussed how he might address his working relationship with Trump. When asked if there was any issue upon which he disagreed with the President, DeSantis replied, “I have to figure out how to do this,” before deliberating with his team. “Obviously there is [some area of disagreement with Trump] because, I mean, I voted contrary to him in the Congress,” DeSantis said. “I have to frame it in a way that’s not going to piss off all his voters.”

Later on in the debate preparation clip, DeSantis said he would respond to the hypothetical question by saying he would “do what I think is right” and “support [Trump’s] agenda, in terms of what he’s been able to do, and if I have a disagreement, I talk to him in private.”

Gaetz and Donalds Speak Out in Defense of DeSantis

Gaetz and Donalds both spoke out in defense of the Florida governor after ABC News published the footage. Both congressmen have endorsed Trump’s 2024 Republican presidential campaign. Their defense of DeSantis is notable in light of the possibility that the Florida governor may announce a rival bid for the 2024 Republican nomination.

“I was on the DeSantis Debate prep team. These tapes should not have been leaked. It’s low class,” Donalds posted on Twitter Sunday.

“I ran the DeSantis Debate Prep in 2018,” Gaetz also posted Sunday. “Though I prefer Trump for President (bigly), the release of these videos by the person operating the camera is disloyal hackery that I do not abide. Staffers who leak on the candidates they’ve done work for deserve the reputations they get.”

Key Takeaways:

• Republican Congressmen Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds defend Florida Governor Ron DeSantis after ABC News releases behind-the-scenes footage of his 2018 debate preparation.
• The leaked video clips show DeSantis preparing to respond to controversies about past campaign remarks and how to appeal to supporters of then-President Donald Trump.
• Gaetz and Donalds both endorse Trump’s 2024 Republican presidential campaign and defend DeSantis in light of the possibility that he may announce a rival bid for the 2024 Republican nomination.

Overall, the leaked footage has sparked controversy and raised questions about the ethics of leaking behind-the-scenes footage of political campaigns.