If Trump had a better strategic grasp, he'd publicly welcome a 2024 primary challenge from DeSantis. As it is, Trump behaves as if he's somehow entitled to the nomination because the Democrats blatantly stole the 2020 election--and please, let's just dispense with the notion they didn't steal the 2020 election. That night I watched a mathematically impossible simultaneous count freeze in several key swing states and knew--like everyone with a brain knew--the fix was in. Let's put that aside.
If Trump publicly welcomes a primary challenge from DeSantis, then it would show voters he's serious about the process and knows GOP presidential candidates aren't anointed. They fight for it. They get down in the mud and the blood and they earn it. Another thing: Trump isn't popular with all Republican voters but many of those with reservations about the man--let's call them not-NeverTrumpers--put aside their dislike and pulled the lever for him in the general election in 2016 and again in 2020. They won't put that dislike aside now. They want a choice. To be honest, I want a choice. I like Ron DeSantis. I like Rand Paul. Let's hear them out.
it's cute that you think rational discourse and common sense will prevail. meanwhile here in the real clown world all that's gotta do is split the vote and piss people off. the GOPe least gets paid for it, you do it for free.
1. PA just voted for a barely functional stroke survivor (can't blame the man, shit sucks, but he should've never run in the first place after that).
2. FL overwhelmingly came out for desantis. they obviously like what he's doing. what you think it's gonna happen when he says "I'm gone in 2 years, so long suckers"? on the other end you got the trump-magas who will equally pissed.
desantis might pull it off if he groomed a suitable replacement in the meantime (good luck with that in a year), fuck I'm not even aware there are any candidates to begin with. so not only would this leave FL wide open for dem shenanigans, if he most likely loses - then what? trump will be 76 in '24, even if he doesn't win he can just lean back and shitpost on social media full time.
it also ignores that desantis is way more establishment than trump (for better or worse). trump winning you can pretty much expect what you'll get, and being his second term and then done one way or another means he doesn't need to hold back as much. meanwhile there's no guarantee that desantis will not turn out to be another lame duck slurping turtle semen - just because he fixed florida (which let's be honest could only go up), with a big push by trump?
the smart play is have trump try again in 2024, and depending how it turns out either serve as his "southern flank" or batten down the hatches, and then either get handed the presidency with a nice endorsement in 28 or as the fixer in 32.
besides, with trump in the WH republicans can shit freely on half the nation that can't fucking elections in a single day, might spur them to get their shit in order. this would do more longterm for everyone involved than shooting his load to soon after getting ear-fucked by the RINOs.