‘Executive guy’ DeSantis doesn’t want to be Trump 2024 running mate

Ron DeSantis, the rightwing Florida governor and rising Republican star, has said he would not accept an offer to be Donald Trump's running mate because he is "probably more of an executive guy".

"I think that you want to be able to do things," the Florida governor told the hard-right Newsmax channel.

DeSantis has not yet entered the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination but he is Trump's only serious rival in polling and is widely expected to announce his run in the coming months. DeSantis's growing influence in Republican politics has seen Trump turn his guns on his ambitions.

This week, relations between the two men turned especially sour.

Though DeSantis has dutifully attacked Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney expected to indict Trump, he has also floated criticism of Trump for making the hush money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels that is at issue in New York.

DeSantis has also questioned Trump's governing style and handling of the Covid pandemic. Performing a U-turn on the Ukraine war after widespread criticism of earlier remarks, DeSantis moved away from the isolationist position favoured by Trump and much of the right of the party.

Trump has fired off nicknames, abuse and insinuations about DeSantis's behaviour around young women as a teacher and even that he might be gay.