Ron DeSantis jabs Trump at town hall: People want a president 'you can emulate'
If Gov. Ron DeSantis is voted into the White House, he has made it a cornerstone to carry himself above reproach.
That was on display when he fielded audience questions in an Iowa town hall.
When asked by moderator Kaitlan Collins about the limits of power as president and former President Donald Trump's contention that he deserves immunity from prosecution — the Florida governor made it clear he would govern with principle and a strict respect to the Constitution and nothing more.
"If you nominate me, I'll get elected, I'll serve, and we won't even be discussing these issues," he said. "We'll be discussing your issues."
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"You're not going to have to worry about my conduct."
He continued: "I'll conduct myself in a way you can be proud of. I'll conduct myself in a way you can tell your kids, 'That's somebody you should emulate!' and we will have success as a result of that."
The crowd in attendance offered a round of applause.
For DeSantis, it's simple: if he keeps to the Constitution the entire question of blanket powers and insulation from criminality is moot.
"If you're abiding by the Constitution, none of that is going to matter at that point," he said. "So, follow the law, follow the Constitution," he said.
And what would DeSantis do when he's not running the free world?
"It's not going to be about me," he said. "Heck, when I'm not out there doing the job — I've got young kids, my wife and I will be back home."
For former Obama strategist David Axelrod, the effort was a political twist, and barebones on taking on Trump head-on, tweeting DeSantis "has clearly delineated the lines he will and will not cross re Trump."
He added: "He flays Trump for failing to deliver on his promises; his position on abortion; in COVID regs; and in declaring that he is not pro-life. But he carefully dances on anything related to the behavior that related to Trump's indictments and suggests that he might be convicted by '12 jurors in left wing Democratic Washington DC.'"