BREAKING: DeSantis declares ‘I can win the Presidency’

DeSantis sat down with Piers Morgan in a wide-ranging interview, saying "stay tuned" when asked about the potential 2024 bid for the GOP nomination. Former President Donald Trump is currently the front-runner for that spot, as he endeavors to earn his second term.

"It was clear that the governor has had enough of Trump’s constant baiting and felt ready to take him on in what could end up being a ferocious battle for the White House," Morgan said, writing about the interview for the New York Post.

"DeSantis slammed Trump over his character failings," Morgan continued, "chaotic leadership style, and for his handling of the COVID pandemic — especially in keeping controversial health chief Dr. Anthony Fauci in his post helping to run the White House Coronavirus Taskforce."

Morgan asked DeSantis how the two most popular Republicans in the country are different, and DeSantis said "Well I think there’s a few things. The approach to COVID was different. I would have fired somebody like Fauci. I think he got way too big for his britches, and I think he did a lot of damage."

DeSantis shut down Florida early on in the pandemic before opening up and giving the state the label "the free state of Florida."

"I also think just in terms of my approach to leadership," DeSantis said, slamming the former president and the man to whom he owes much of his political start, "I get personnel in the Government who have the agenda of the people and share our agenda. You bring your own agenda in you’re gone. We’re just not gonna have that. So, the way we run the Government I think is no daily drama, focus on the big picture and put points on the board and I think that’s something that’s very important."

Morgan asked about the mudslinging that has already started as rumors of a DeSantis run swirl. "I don’t know how to spell the sanctimonious one. I don’t really know what it means, but I kinda like it, it’s long, it's got a lot of vowels. We’ll go with that, that’s fine. I mean you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner because that’s what we’ve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this State to the next level," he said.

Trump endorsed DeSantis when he first ran for governor, helping him beat out Andrew Gillum. "Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader. Yale and then Harvard who would make a great Governor of Florida. He loves our country. He’s a true fighter," Trump had said at the time.

"Things have changed a little bit, I guess. It is what it is," DeSantis said.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.