<p>Former US president Donald Trump maintained his frontrunner status after nearly every major Republican presidential hopeful shared the stage in the early voting state of Iowa on Friday night during crucial Lincoln Dinner fundraiser. With Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott sharing the stage, the fundraiser occurred with less than six months left for the state's caucuses.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Republican presidential hopefuls addressed the donors and local Republican leaders.</p>

<p>Trump insisted he was the best candidate to defeat Joe Biden, citing the polls that show him far ahead of DeSantis.</p>

<p>"I wouldn’t take a chance on that one," Trump said of DeSantis, who he consistently referred to as "DeSanctis". Speaking about his record as president, Trump insisted that he was the only president who did not start a war on a foreign land.</p>

<p>The Florida governor, meanwhile, talked up his record in the state that he said has focused to "beat the left's agenda".&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bidens-approval-rating-plummets-to-new-low-as-trump-gains-momentum-612215">Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum</a></strong></p>

<p>Under DeSantis, the state of Florida has seen attacks on transgender healthcare as well as abortion access.<br />
<br />
His relentless attack on LGBTQ+ education has won him hardline supporters amid consistent criticism from activists and people alike.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Donald Trump's employee accused of attempting to delete CCTV Footage</strong></p>

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<p>Taking a leaf out of Trump's booklet of populism that the former president first used in the run up to his election to the White House in 2016, DeSantis said that he will deploy military on border with Mexico and vowed a "deadly force" on &nbsp;drug cartels.</p>

<h2><strong>Iowa Lincoln Dinner: Trump cements frontrunner lead</strong></h2>

<p>Despite an immediate prospect of a third criminal indictment, Trump has a whopping 30-point advantage over his closest rival, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, according to a Fox Business poll.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis is faltering. The Florida governor has recently fired a third of his campaign staff and reportedly cancelled&nbsp;two fundraising events last weekend due to lack of donor interest.</p>

<p>According to FiveThirtyEight’s average of national polls, his support among likely Republican primary voters has dipped by roughly eight points since the beginning of July 2023.</p>

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Former US president Donald Trump maintained his frontrunner status after nearly every major Republican presidential hopeful shared the stage in the early voting state of Iowa on Friday night during crucial Lincoln Dinner fundraiser.

Former US president Donald Trump maintained his frontrunner status after nearly every major Republican presidential hopeful shared the stage in the early voting state of Iowa on Friday night during crucial Lincoln Dinner fundraiser. With Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott sharing the stage, the fundraiser occurred with less than six months left for the state's caucuses. The Republican presidential hopefuls addressed the donors and local Republican leaders. Trump insisted he was the best candidate to defeat Joe Biden, citing the polls that show him far ahead of DeSantis. "I wouldn’t take a chance on that one," Trump said of DeSantis, who he consistently referred to as "DeSanctis". Speaking about his record as president, Trump insisted that he was the only president who did not start a war on a foreign land. The Florida governor, meanwhile, talked up his record in the state that he said has focused to "beat the left's agenda". Also read | Biden’s approval rating plummets to new low as Trump gains momentum Under DeSantis, the state of Florida has seen attacks on transgender healthcare as well as abortion access. His relentless attack on LGBTQ+ education has won him hardline supporters amid consistent criticism from activists and people alike. Also watch | Donald Trump's employee accused of attempting to delete CCTV Footage × Taking a leaf out of Trump's booklet of populism that the former president first used in the run up to his election to the White House in 2016, DeSantis said that he will deploy military on border with Mexico and vowed a "deadly force" on drug cartels. Iowa Lincoln Dinner: Trump cements frontrunner lead Despite an immediate prospect of a third criminal indictment, Trump has a whopping 30-point advantage over his closest rival, the Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, according to a Fox Business poll. Meanwhile, the presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis is faltering. The Florida governor has recently fired a third of his campaign staff and reportedly cancelled two fundraising events last weekend due to lack of donor interest. According to FiveThirtyEight’s average of national polls, his support among likely Republican primary voters has dipped by roughly eight points since the beginning of July 2023. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Trump retains Republican frontrunner status, denigrates DeSantis as 'DeSanctis'

<p>Former US President Donald Trump issued a rather stark warning to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis against running for president in 2024. Trump accompanied it with a threat that he will release 'unflattering information' about him if he decides to ho ahead anyways.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I think he would be making a mistake. I think the base would not like it," the former president told Fox News, adding that the decision will harm the Republican party.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/third-shot-at-the-white-house-trump-says-will-make-very-big-announcement-on-november-15-532058">Trump says will make 'very big announcement' on November 15</a></p>

<p>Speaking ahead of the Tuesday midterms, Trump told the channel that DeSantis should stay away from the race as it could hurt him really bad.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I don't know if he is running. I think if he runs, he could hurt himself very badly. I really believe he could hurt himself badly," he said. "I don't think it would be good for the party."</p>

<p>Trump and DeSantis are likely to be the main contenders for a Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential elections. Trump has been targetting DeSantis at various&nbsp;elections rallies, calling him names, including "Ron DeSanctimonious".</p>

<p>If at all DeSantis decides to run for the top job, Trump said he would reveal "things about him that won't be very flattering. I know more about him than anybody - other than, perhaps, his wife". However, he did not give any details.</p>

<p>This is not the first time that Trump has threatened to release damaging secrets about his rival candidates.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>While it seems like Trump is gearing up to rout any type of competition, he clearly denies that . "There's not a tiff with me, and I'm way up in the polls," he said.</p>

<p>DeSantis became the Florida governor in 2019 and is being seen as Trump's main rival in the 2024 elections. He was re-elected in Florida by a historic margin in Tuesday's midterm polls, defeating Democratic challenger Charlie Crist. His big win sets him up as the leading Republican contender for president, which Trump possibly views as a threat, despite denying it.</p>

<p>DeSantis had depended heavily on Trump's endorsement during the 2018 gubernatorial election which helped him win the GOP nomination.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Former US President Donald Trump issued a rather stark warning to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis against running for president in 2024. Trump accompanied it with a threat that he will release 'unflattering information' about him if he decides to ho ahead anyways.

Former US President Donald Trump issued a rather stark warning to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis against running for president in 2024. Trump accompanied it with a threat that he will release 'unflattering information' about him if he decides to ho ahead anyways. "I think he would be making a mistake. I think the base would not like it," the former president told Fox News, adding that the decision will harm the Republican party. Also Read | Trump says will make 'very big announcement' on November 15 Speaking ahead of the Tuesday midterms, Trump told the channel that DeSantis should stay away from the race as it could hurt him really bad. "I don't know if he is running. I think if he runs, he could hurt himself very badly. I really believe he could hurt himself badly," he said. "I don't think it would be good for the party." Trump and DeSantis are likely to be the main contenders for a Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential elections. Trump has been targetting DeSantis at various elections rallies, calling him names, including "Ron DeSanctimonious". If at all DeSantis decides to run for the top job, Trump said he would reveal "things about him that won't be very flattering. I know more about him than anybody - other than, perhaps, his wife". However, he did not give any details. This is not the first time that Trump has threatened to release damaging secrets about his rival candidates. × While it seems like Trump is gearing up to rout any type of competition, he clearly denies that . "There's not a tiff with me, and I'm way up in the polls," he said. DeSantis became the Florida governor in 2019 and is being seen as Trump's main rival in the 2024 elections. He was re-elected in Florida by a historic margin in Tuesday's midterm polls, defeating Democratic challenger Charlie Crist. His big win sets him up as the leading Republican contender for president, which Trump possibly views as a threat, despite denying it. DeSantis had depended heavily on Trump's endorsement during the 2018 gubernatorial election which helped him win the GOP nomination. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump threatens to release unflattering information about DeSantis if he pursues a presidential run

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Trump retains Republican frontrunner status, denigrates DeSantis as 'DeSanctis'

Trump threatens to release unflattering information about DeSantis if he pursues a presidential run