The Murdochs are starting to lose faith in Ron DeSantis' chances of crushing Trump: 'They are transactional and can smell a loser a mile away'
Drew Angerer via Getty Images; Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
- The Murdochs are starting to lose faith in DeSantis' chances of beating Trump, per Rolling Stone.
- "They are transactional and can smell a loser a mile away," a source from Fox told Rolling Stone.
- Another source said Rupert Murdoch is worried that they "may end up stuck with Trump anyway."
Rupert Murdoch and his family are starting to lose faith in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' chances of beating former President Donald Trump, Rolling Stone reported on Tuesday, citing sources familiar with the situation.
A source from Fox told Rolling Stone that both the Murdochs and Fox News' top executives don't think DeSantis' prospects of clinching the Republican nomination are great.
"They are transactional and can smell a loser a mile away," said the source.
Rolling Stone said it spoke to eight individuals who were familiar with the Murdochs and Fox News, but did not disclose their identities.
A senior Fox source told Rolling Stone that Rupert Murdoch's "understandable worry is that we may end up stuck with Trump anyway."
"And DeSantis is underperforming. Anybody can see that," added the source. "They're seeing it, too."
But it looks like the Murdochs aren't giving up on DeSantis just yet. Rolling Stone's sources told the outlet that the Murdochs understand that they would have no choice but to go back to Trump if DeSantis is out.
"Ron DeSantis was built up as the Trump-slayer. So if he's not immediately leading Trump in the polls, it's easy to see how that can easily be spun as a let-down," former Republican National Committee communications director Doug Heye told Rolling Stone.
DeSantis's troubles began at the start of his presidential bid. An attempt to launch his campaign on Twitter in May was dogged by technical issues and delays.
Trump, for his part, has long viewed DeSantis as a threat. The former president nicknamed Gov. DeSantis "Ron DeSanctimonious," and has moved quickly to clinch endorsements from Republican lawmakers. Meanwhile, DeSantis has consistently lagged behind Trump, according to multiple GOP primary polls.
Representatives for Fox News and the DeSantis campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.