DeSantis says he hopes 2024 rivals attack him at first GOP debate 

Ron DeSantis’ 2024 opponents view him as a “threat” to win the presidency, the Florida governor touted Thursday — and revealed that he hopes his Republican rivals attack him at the first primary debate. 

“I hope so,” DeSantis, 44, responded when asked by NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer if he thinks his fellow GOPers will direct barbs at him in Milwaukee on Aug. 23.

“Look, when they’re attacking you, that means you’re over the target. So we’re happy to field that, and we’ll hold our own,” the Sunshine State governor said.

“Because at the end of the day, I am running to actually win the presidency and do all these great things. I don’t have any other motive,” he added.

“I don’t want to get a cable news deal. I am not trying to sell anything, I don’t want a Cabinet post. We’re running, we’re running to win.”

DeSantis also made the case that former President Donald Trump, his top rival in the crowded 2024 GOP field, also considers him a threat.

The 77-year-old plans to appear at the Iowa State Fair Saturday — the same day DeSantis is holding an event with Florida lawmakers who have endorsed him in tow. 

“Well, look, I think it just shows like I’m the guy that takes … I get attacked by the left, I get attacked by the Democrats, Biden, Harris, the media, Trump, so I must be somebody that they consider to be a threat because if not, you would kind of just ignore and go on,” DeSantis told NewsNation. 

“But I can tell you this: I’m going to be there with Gov. Kim Reynolds. Donald Trump has attacked Gov. Kim Reynolds. She’s done a great job here. Iowans love her. I am proud as a Republican to see a Republican governor like Kim Reynolds get so many great things done,” he continued.

“I don’t believe it’s good for the party to be attacking people like Kim Reynolds, and so we’re going to do the ‘Fair-Side Chat’ with her. Trump is not doing that chat with Kim Reynolds even though he had the opportunity to do so.”

Trump fumed at the Hawkeye State’s governor in July following reports that she’s been warming up to DeSantis. 

“I opened up the Governor position for Kim Reynolds, & when she fell behind, I ENDORSED her, did big Rallies, & she won. Now, she wants to remain ‘NEUTRAL.’ I don’t invite her to events! DeSanctus down 45 points!” Trump wrote on Truth Social last month.

Trump is expected to announce whether or not he will attend the Milwaukee debate next week. 

The former president has argued that it serves him no benefit to debate his Republican points given his massive lead in the polls. 

A RealClearPolitics average of national surveys shows Trump leading DeSantis by 39 points. 

In contrast to DeSantis, the former president expressed concern in an interview with Newsmax on Wednesday that he’d be attacked by lower-polling rivals were he to participate in the debate.

“Somebody like Asa Hutchinson, who’s polling at zero, will ask me nasty questions. Somebody like Chris Christie, who’s falling at 1%, he’s going to ask me nasty questions and others too,” Trump explained.