tWhat would a visit from President Donald Trump be without a little controversy?
Trump’s visit to Florida later Tuesday is provoking attacks from Florida’s Democratic candidates for governor. It also comes on the same day Trump himself launched a Twitter attack on Republican mega-donors, the Koch brothers. It just so happens the Koch brothers are big supporters of Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis.
According to the Associated Press Scott attended a summit hosted by the Koch brothers in Colorado this past weekend.
But, Tuesday morning the Koch brothers were the subject of Trump’s latest tweet storm.
“The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade. I never sought their support because I don’t need their money or bad ideas,” Trump posted on Twitter.
Their network is highly overrated, I have beaten them at every turn,” Trump added.
The globalist Koch Brothers, who have become a total joke in real Republican circles, are against Strong Borders and Powerful Trade. I never sought their support because I don’t need their money or bad ideas. They love my Tax & Regulation Cuts, Judicial picks & more. I made…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
….them richer. Their network is highly overrated, I have beaten them at every turn. They want to protect their companies outside the U.S. from being taxed, I’m for America First & the American Worker – a puppet for no one. Two nice guys with bad ideas. Make America Great Again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2018
Meanwhile, Trump is also being targeted by some of Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates.
“Welcome back to Florida, @realDonaldTrump. My name is Andrew Gillum and I’m the only candidate for Governor who believes you deserve to be impeached,” Tallahassee Mayor Gillum tweeted.
Welcome back to Florida, @realDonaldTrump. My name is Andrew Gillum and I'm the only candidate for Governor who believes you deserve to be impeached. So does everyone else who RTs this.
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) July 31, 2018
Orlando-area businessman Chris King, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, took his own shots at Trump and his pick for governor, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis. One of the reasons Trump is visiting Florida is to help rally support for DeSantis.
“Between Congressman DeSantis’ new television ad and today’s rally in Tampa, the Republican race for governor is now a choice between a proud NRA sellout (Adam Putnam) and a proud Trump sellout (DeSantis) ,” King said in a statement referring to a new ad released by DeSantis Monday. The ad takes a light-hearted approach to DeSantis’ full support of Trump and his policies.
“The congressman’s baby is very cute, but there’s nothing cute about an ad that stokes racism and fear and has zero substance on what he’ll do to tackle actual problems that real people face in Florida every day.”
Meanwhile, another Democrat for governor, Jeff Greene, is planning to protest Trump and his rally in Tampa Tuesday evening. Greene has made standing up to Trump a central theme of his campaign mailers and TV ads.
“Donald Trump is nothing but a traitor,” Greene said during the last gubernatorial Democratic debate in Ft. Myers.