In a fiery response to the news report, Trump strategist Chris LaCivita lashed out at Florida Governor DeSantis on X. LaCivita’s insult was in reaction to DeSantis stating on a call with supporters that he opposes Trump using “identity politics” to select a running mate. The governor also reportedly dismissed the notion of being Trump’s running mate during the call, as first reported by the New York Post.
LaCivita further emphasized his position through subsequent posts on social media. He shared a photo of actor James Gandolfini, renowned for his portrayal of the fictional mob boss Tony Soprano, defiantly showing his middle finger to the camera.
The mention of “pudding cups” originates from a report by the Daily Beast, which revealed an incident where DeSantis was seen eating pudding with his fingers on a private jet. Additionally, in January, while addressing New Hampshire voters, DeSantis shared a story about his family’s fondness for chicken tenders, hence the chicken fingers reference.
During the call, DeSantis did not hesitate to express his criticism of Trump, but as soon as the former president ended his presidential campaign in January, DeSantis swiftly gave his endorsement.
According to DeSantis, he endorsed Trump because he believes that going back to the old Republican guard, which he sees represented by Nikki Haley, would be a step backwards towards a rehashed form of corporatism. In response, Trump’s campaign expressed their gratitude for DeSantis’ endorsement, stating that they were honored to have his support.