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Tension has been brewing between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Trump for quite some time now.

For a while, DeSantis and Trump were viewed as political allies. However, that all changed as DeSantis' stock rose in the political world, with more people considering him a worthy contender for the 2024 presidential election.

Just earlier this week, DeSantis formally entered the upcoming White House race. This happened despite Trump and his team doing everything from insulting DeSantis to pleading with him not to run.

Now, as an official presidential candidate, DeSantis is weighing in on some of Trump's latest shenanigans, namely his apparent shift to the left.

Gloves off

In an odd turn, Trump's opted to use left-wing talking points as a means of ammunition against DeSantis, despite running as a Republican candidate.

Trump, along with his allies, claim the Florida governor did a worse job of handling COVID than New York did. Likewise, the former president keeps alleging that DeSantis has it in for Social Security and other similar programs.

In response to this, DeSantis noted Trump is attacking him from the left. The new presidential candidate likewise reiterated his support for "conservative principles" before stating "bold policy," rather than a shift to the left, is critical for a national win.

That's not all, though. The Florida governor and 2024 contender also noted how the current version of Trump differs from his 2015/2016 self.

DeSantis said the former president is taking his 2024 campaign in the wrong direction. He also noted that during Trump's presidency, Trump turned over the United States to Anthony Fauci.

As many Americans can remember, Fauci's advice and talking points largely spearheaded the lockdowns, vaccine mandates, and mask requirements that brought about immense societal damage.

2024 Republican primary debate

On numerous occasions, Trump has faced accusations of believing that he's owed the GOP nomination by default. The former president showing aversion to engaging in debates isn't doing him any favors in this regard.

In contrast, DeSantis has made it clear he's more than willing to engage in 2024 Republican primary debates. The nomination, according to DeSantis, is something that any candidate must earn, rather than expecting it to be handed to them on a silver platter.