A former Trump administration ambassador is now reportedly endorsing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for the GOP nomination in 2024, claiming that the former president’s “name-calling” is driving away supporters.
Don Tapia, an Arizona businessman, served as the United States’ ambassador to Jamaica from 2019 to 2021.
He told Politico on Tuesday that, despite his prior administration’s views, he would support DeSantis if he ran for president.
“The name-calling has turned a lot of people off. Let me tell you, we don’t like that.” Tapia said.
Tapia told Politico that he contributed six figures to Trump’s presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020. According to the story, he has now contributed more over $50,000 to DeSantis’ re-election campaign.
He has also held a number of fundraisers for the governor.
Trump’s jabs at DeSantis began in November, when he dubbed him “Ron DeSanctimonious” only three days before the midterm elections.
On Election Day, Trump threatened to expose dirt on DeSantis if he decided to run for president, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Trump recently asserted on his Truth Society website that, despite his repeated belittling and name-calling of DeSantis, he hardly thinks about him.
DeSantis is widely expected to officially declare his intention to run for President later this year, and numerous polls currently show him tied with or actually over taking Trump among GOP primary voters.
[READ MORE: Trump Attacks New York Post Over Positive Profile of DeSantis]
