A week after mocking Republicans who back Trump, DeSantis mocked for meekly backing Trump

Ron DeSantis is facing a similar kind of mockery he previously aimed at his competitors for “kissing the ring” of former President Donald Trump.

Before dropping out of the race just days before Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary, Mr DeSantis often made fun of other Republicans and their deference to Mr Trump.

“You can be the most worthless Republican in America, but if you kiss the ring, he'll say you're wonderful,” the Floridagovernor said in Ankeny, Iowa ahead of the state’s caucuses. “You can be the strongest, most dynamic, successful Republican and conservative in America, but if you don't kiss that ring, then he’ll try to trash you. You know what? You deserve a nominee that's going to put you first, not himself first.”

After dropping out of the race on Sunday, Mr DeSantis turned around and endorsed Mr Trump himself.

“Ron DeSantis just kissed the ring,” Mr Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, wrote on X.

Podcaster Julie Roginsky predicted Mr DeSantis’s endorsement of Mr Trump, writing on 15 January: “Pin this tweet for when DeSantis drops, immediately kisses Trump’s ring and basks in the glow of Trump’s approval.”

“Guess who just kissed the ring on his way out….they are all pathetic,” comedian Dana Goldberg added.

Former GOP senate staffer Amanda Carpenter wrote on 15 January, “There needs to be a word or phrase to describe how candidates, mostly out of frustration, finally get honest when it’s too late,” in reference to Mr DeSantis’s pre-Iowa comments about Mr Trump.

Democratic strategist Joe Trippi noted: “As DeSantis exit proves no one leaves the race because they can’t win. They leave the race because they are out of money. Whatever the result in NH there is only one knockout blow — running out of money.”

Former MSNBC