DeSantis calls Trump a ‘keyboard warrior’ for skipping debates, tells him to get out of his dungeon

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis had choice words for Donald Trump while addressing the upcoming debate for the Republican Primary.

In a press conference on Florida’s budget at Marco Island Charter Middle School, DeSantis said he would be participating in NewsNation’s Republican primary debate in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday. He’ll be joined by rival candidates Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and Vivek Ramaswamy.

However, former President Donald Trump will not be joining the debate stage. The current frontrunner for the Republican primary has not attended any debates, which earned DeSantis’ ire.

“If you’re doing so well, you should want to go up there and make your case, and I think voters deserve to hear from candidates as to why they should be the nominee,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis also fired back on Trump’s comments on his political career, saying Trump blamed him for FSU not making the playoffs and siding with Disney in the governor’s feud with the entertainment company.

“If you’re going to be a keyboard warrior, get out of your dungeon, get off the keyboard, stand on the debate stage, and let’s go,” DeSantis said. “Let’s do it. I don’t think he will do it because I don’t think he can stand there for two hours against me and come out on top.”

Meanwhile, Trump’s campaign has called DeSantis’ campaign a “dumpster fire,” saying he “continues to fall like a seriously injured bird in every poll.”

A NewsNation/Decision Desk HQ poll found that Donald Trump currently trails far ahead of DeSantis, having 60% of the voter support. DeSantis is vying for the second place slot with Haley, who had 10% of the poll against DeSantis’ 11%.

The NewsNation debate will take place Wednesday at 8 p.m.