DeSantis asks Hannity to arrange debate with Trump

Ron DeSantis asked Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday to arrange a head-to-head debate that would allow the Florida governor to take on former President Trump.

DeSantis and Trump are both running for president, but the Florida governor is well behind the former president in polls ahead of the critical Iowa caucuses.

Trump has skipped every GOP presidential debate, and DeSantis has gone after him for ducking a challenge.

DeSantis brought up the idea during an interview on Fox News’s “Hannity” where he referenced the debate Hannity hosted between DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

“Well, Sean, I don’t think we’ve spoken since that debate, and the reaction that I’ve gotten has been incredible in terms of obviously being able to show that freedom works, and the California model’s a failure, what that means for the country,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis praised Hannity’s moderating skills and suggested he hold additional debates with either of his top competitors in the presidential primary — with Trump, who leads virtually every poll by at least 30 points, or with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

Haley is also running for the GOP nomination and has moved ahead of DeSantis in polls in New Hampshire.

“People appreciated the way you set it up, and they said it was the most substantive debate that they’ve seen in this entire election cycle. And so kudos to you for doing it. I know he had challenged me and you asked me to do it, so I’m glad we’re able to get that done,” DeSantis said in the interview, which was first highlighted by Mediaite.

“And just know if you want to do other debates — Nikki Haley and me, I’m in; Donald Trump and me, I’m in — so just say the word,” DeSantis added. “You’ve shown that you can do it in a way that I think really helps the voter, so I’m game just let me know.”

Trump has said he does not think participating in primary debates is worth his time as the clear front-runner. He has focused his ads and campaign messaging largely on President Biden, further dismissing the threat any of his primary challengers poses.

The debate between Newsom and DeSantis, which took place about two weeks ago, came after months of the two governors challenging each other over their states’ policies. The debate lasted 90 minutes and was packed with insults and jabs related to their respective states’ handling of COVID-19, crime and abortion.