From policy to facial expressions, Mr. DeSantis goes abroad

Editor's Note – Obviously, there was a lot of news after this morning's newsletter. Besides the news cycle being hijacked by news of Tucker Carlson's ouster at Fox News and Don Lemon's removal at CNN, social media was on fire with comments on DeSantis' curious facial expression upon being asked about being behind in the polls to Donald Trump. "DeSantis ... stared wide-eyed with mouth agape before saying: 'I’m not a candidate, so we’ll see if and when that changes,' " HuffPost reported as #BobbleheadRon started to trend on Twitter. Meantime, the New York Post headlined its coverage of DeSantis' trip abroad with, "Ron DeSantis flaunts fashionable wife, Casey, on Japan trip."

After a politically trying week at home, Gov. Ron DeSantis heads abroad this week on an international trade mission to four countries. The governor, his wife Casey and an entourage of state officials and staff plan to visit Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom. Business recruitment and investment no doubt will be on the agenda. 

“Florida has the 15th largest economy in the world, and that is because our state has worked to create partnerships with other countries,” the governor said in a statement last week. “This trade mission will give us the opportunity to strengthen economic relationships and continue to demonstrate Florida’s position as an economic leader.”

The trip – happening in the homestretch of this year’s legislative session – is also an opportunity to score foreign affairs points after setbacks last week to his yet-to-be-declared White House run, including a string of congressional endorsements going to Donald Trump. Rick Wilson, the longtime GOP political consultant who penned “Everything Trump Touches Dies” and no DeSantis fan himself, gave another hint what the governor is up against.  

“The thing about Trump at the moment (is) he has assembled a much better (campaign) team,” Wilson said during last week’s “Strategy Session” podcast. “… Susie Wiles. She was DeSantis' campaign manager. He threw her over. She's now with Trump. Hyper competent. … We are taking it very seriously.” He added, “I mean, my phone is blowing up about how many Republicans in Florida are now racing each other to get on the Trump bandwagon again.”

– Jim Rosica

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