By all accounts the only Republican who might stand a chance against Donald Trump is Ron DeSantis.
So Trump has been launching attacks to try and cut into the Florida Governor’s support before he even announces an official campaign.
But this new Donald Trump nickname for Ron DeSantis had late-night talk shows feasting.
It’s not an unheard-of tactic in politics.
You figure out who your biggest threat is then try to tear them down.
And that is exactly what Donald Trump has been trying to do to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
“Trump is going to eat that meatball like a snack”
As the Florida Governor’s rise in the polls threatens Trump he has attempted to attack DeSantis on some key issues.
Those attacks have fallen flat, however.
So, after the media attention he got for his “DeSanctimonious” nickname, Trump has reportedly come up with a new one for DeSantis.
But so far it’s not going as expected.
Left-wing late night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel both reacted to reports Trump has come up with a new nickname for DeSantis.
“Meatball Ron.”
Yes, that’s what the report said, Meatball Ron.
“We learned from The New York Times over the weekend that Trump’s new nickname for Ron DeSantis is ‘Meatball Ron,’” Kimmel said on his show.
Kimmel then joked, “Trump is going to eat that meatball like a snack.”
Colbert also spoke out about “Meatball Ron,” a nickname he said was an act of “crystallized genius.”
“Ooh!” Colbert exclaimed, “I do not like how much I love that! It’s so dumb and accurate.”
“A walking, talking beef baton”
But Colbert didn’t stop there.
He began to sing a parody song about the nickname, set to the tune of Billy Joel’s hit “Uptown Girl.”
“Meatball Ron! He’s a walking, talking beef baton.”
“The Late Show’s” official Twitter account even tweeted out “Meatball Ron” was “[u]nfortunatley,” a “really great nickname.”
The former president apparently now refers to Ron DeSantis as “Meatball Ron.” Unfortunately, it’s a really great nickname. #Colbert pic.twitter.com/HrvYQhnwLB
— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 15, 2023
But more serious observers weren’t so flippant.
Radio talk show host and Life, Liberty and Levin host Mark Levin said the nickname was bad strategy on Trump’s part.
“I happen to like Meatballs. But this will turn off a lot of conservative voters. Not a wise move if true. I hope it’s not,” Levin said.
I happen to like Meatballs. But this will turn off a lot of conservative voters. Not a wise move if true. I hope it’s not.https://t.co/ghLP1Q1M7A
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) February 14, 2023
And New York Times reporter and rabid Trump critic Maggie Haberman claimed Trump “has insulted Mr. DeSantis in casual conversations,” calling him “Meatball Ron” or “Shutdown Ron,” a reference to COVID restrictions the governor enacted in Florida.
But Trump wasn’t having any of it and tried to refute Haberman’s claims directly in a fiery post on Truth Social.
“All of the Fake News is reporting that I spend large amounts of my time coming up with a good ‘nickname’ for Ron DeSanctimonious, who is obviously going to
give the presidential ‘thing’ a shot,” Trump wrote.
“They are all 100% wrong, I don’t even think about it — A very unimportant subject to me!!!”
“Wouldn’t you like to know”
DeSantis has not actually thrown his name in the hat for the 2024 Presidential nomination and remains coy about his plans.
The Florida Governor was recently asked directly by a reporter whether he was going to follow in the footsteps of former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and announce his run for president.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” DeSantis responded, laughing.
Despite his reluctance to state whether he is in fact running he is already facing increasing attacks from Trump.
Only time will tell if GOP voters warm up to Meatball or not.
