MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Donald Trump shades former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany for propping up 2024 rival Ron DeSantis

Donald Trump sparked a fiery debate among some prominent figures in his MAGA movement after he took aim at Kayleigh McEnany

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Donald Trump took a potshot at his former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany for supporting his 2024 political rival Ron DeSantis. 

It's worth noting that DeSantis is yet to officially announce his 2024 candidacy, but the popular Florida governor has already proven to be Trump's biggest hurdle in claiming the Republican nomination. The former president sparked a fiery debate among some prominent figures in his MAGA movement after he took aim at McEnany in a Truth Social post over the weekend. 

READ MORE

LOVE, LUST, LOYALTY: Inside Donald and Melania Trump's 'failing' marriage

Grand jury submits final report after investigating Donald Trump and allies' alleged election interference

Trump did not hold back while throwing shade at McEnany when he reshared a post from his former press secretary. “I guess Kayleigh is no longer speaking so favorably about DeSanctimonious now that his Polls are shot!” he wrote.

Trump was referring to a post by McEnany in which she praised the former president's interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. "Trump excels when he talks policy, emphasizes his experience, and reminds Americans how safe our country was on his watch," McEnany wrote in her original post.

'Hottest governor in Republican politics'

It's worth noting that McEnany did not mention DeSantis or even ridicule her former boss, but Trump was hitting back at a prior statement in which she urged DeSantis to get in the presidential race. "How can you wait when you are currently the hottest governor in Republican politics…?" McEnany asked the GOP governor back in February.

'Cheerleader for DeSantis'

After Trump's thinly veiled attack on McEnany, prominent MAGA activist Laura Loomer offered her two cents and branded the former press secretary as an "ingrate." Loomer hit back at McEnany saying, "Over the last few months, she’s been a cheerleader for @GovRon DeSantis even though she owes her career to President Trump. She still hasn’t endorsed him for 2024. #Ingrate."

This did not sit well with Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for Trump's 2020 campaign, who retorted with her own statement. "She was a CNN contributor and the RNC spokesperson prior to her roles with Trump’s campaign and Admin. She’s also a graduate of Harvard. Her own hard work and faithfulness to Christ advanced her career," Ellis tweeted. "Just because someone did a phenomenal job for Trump ALSO, it doesn’t mean we all owe him whatever he demands out of 'loyalty' forever for all our own hard work prior, during, and after him. Kayleigh and many other strong women (including @KatrinaPierson, @ErinMPerrine, me, and others) had careers long before and will long after working for Trump. We simply moved forward with our lives like normal women. This is embarrassing from idiots like Loomer whose own focus now is just desperately trying to get where we were," she added.

Loomer shot to prominence as a MAGA firebrand when it was reported that the Trump campaign was considering hiring her. However, they walked back on their decision after Loomer faced backlash for labeling Islam a "cancer" and wore a Star of David patch while protesting outside of Twitter's headquarters, per Radar Online.