The political landscape is rife with faux pas, but sometimes politicians truly outdo themselves.

One would think that by now, seasoned politicians would have grasped a fundamental rule of engagement: Never, under any circumstance, insult the very people you wish to win over.

Yet, here we are again, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis echoing the infamous gaffe reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s “Basket of Deplorables” moment.

What’s truly baffling isn’t just the audacity of DeSantis’s words but the gross mischaracterization of Trump’s passionate voter base.

Calling MAGA supporters “listless vessels” is not only patently false but showcases a disconnection with the very core of the movement.

Trump voters are a diverse coalition: they are professors, engineers, teachers, and blue-collar workers.

They support Trump because they believe in a vision of America that’s prosperous, free, and unapologetically patriotic.

DeSantis’s remark implies an odd presumption that Trump supporters are mere puppets, waiting for tweets to dictate their direction.

How absurd!

These are individuals who, time and again, have showcased their political savvy, dedication, and, most importantly, their commitment to America’s foundational values.

They rally behind Trump not because of blind allegiance but due to a shared vision of the nation’s future.

The term “listless vessels” might be more apt for those political elites who consistently fail to understand the pulse of the nation.

It seems that while MAGA supporters are out there working hard, supporting their communities, and championing policies that benefit everyday Americans, certain politicians remain ensconced in their echo chambers, failing to recognize the truth right in front of them.

The backlash from the MAGA world was swift and rightly so.

It serves as a potent reminder that underestimating or mischaracterizing Trump supporters is not only politically injudicious but downright disrespectful.

In the world of politics, words matter, and Gov. DeSantis might have just learned this lesson the hard way.

Politico spills the tea:

The Trump campaign and MAGA world on Saturday blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for remarks appearing to label some of the former president’s supporters “listless vessels.”

“DeSantis goes full-blown Hillary and call[s] MAGA supporters ‘Listless Vessels,’” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung wrote on X, referring to a DeSantis interview with The Florida Standard in which the GOP presidential candidate stated that a strong conservative movement needed to be based on principles.

“A movement can’t be about the personality of one individual,” DeSantis said. “If all we are is listless vessels that’s just supposed to follow, you know, whatever happens to come down the pike on Truth Social every morning, that’s not going to be a durable movement.”

A Trump-aligned super PAC also blasted DeSantis’ statement.

“To Hillary Clinton, Trump supporters are ‘deplorables.’ To Ron DeSantis, they are ‘listless vessels.’ The truth is, Trump supporters are patriots,” MAGA, Inc. spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “DeSantis must immediately apologize for his disgraceful insult.”

“Looks like Ron DeSanctimonious just had his ‘Basket of Deplorables’ moment,” said Trump adviser Jason Miller.

His dismissal of Trump supporters as “listless vessels” is more than just an errant comment—it’s a political faux pas of epic proportions.

For someone who enjoyed a sweeping victory and stood on the cusp of leading the conservative movement, this feels like a Shakespearean tragedy.

Just when he was poised to secure his position as a top contender for the presidency, DeSantis appears to have underestimated the deep-rooted loyalty and passion of Trump’s base.

The timing couldn’t be worse.

With Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech magnate, steadily gaining traction, DeSantis’s misplaced words provide ample ammunition for his competitors.

The simmering tension in the GOP primary has now reached a boiling point, and the calls for an apology from the Trump camp are both loud and justified.

It’s perplexing to see DeSantis deploy the very same “listless vessel” insult he once reserved for President Joe Biden against the MAGA movement.

It’s as if he forgot that this very base played an instrumental role in his meteoric rise.

By attempting to assert his independence and distance himself from Trump, DeSantis might have alienated a considerable chunk of his support.

Left wing media is eating this story up. Even Vanity Fair covered it:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s oblique reference to Donald Trump supporters as “listless vessels” has roiled the GOP primary, prompting demands for an apology from Trump surrogates and escalating a growing feud with biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been gaining ground on DeSantis in recent weeks.

“A movement can’t be about the personality of one individual,” DeSantis said in an interview with The Florida Standard, an upstart outlet run by a former Trump supporter that has ingratiated itself with the governor.

“If all we are is listless vessels that’s just supposed to follow, you know, whatever happens to come down the pike on Truth Social every morning, that’s not going to be a durable movement.”

DeSantis had previously used the “listless vessel” barb to describe President Joe Biden during his May campaign launch.

Whether this moment will be the nail in the coffin for DeSantis’s campaign remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the political landscape is volatile, and loyalty is everything.

While it’s understandable for politicians to carve out their niche and individuality, they must tread carefully, lest they alienate the very base that propelled them to prominence.

Governor DeSantis’s recent comments might very well be a lesson in how not to play the political game.

It’s it obvious by now?

Trump is loyal to people who are loyal to him!

So why are so many people in the Republican party so willing to backstab him?

It must be the elitist way of thinking – because it doesn’t make any sense!

 

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