Florida Governor Ron DeSantis suspended his 2024 presidential campaign following a poor performance in the Iowa GOP caucuses. The governor announced his decision through a video message, in which he falsely attributed a quote about failure to Winston Churchill.
DeSantis, who began his campaign with significant Republican support and funding, had centered his efforts on a so-called “war on woke.”
However, a combination of a late campaign start, poor polling results, massive layoffs within his campaign, and a perceived lack of charisma led to the downfall of his presidential aspirations.
In his video message, DeSantis quoted, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts,” attributing the quote to the late British political leader Winston Churchill. DeSantis further echoed this sentiment in a post on X, stating, “While this campaign has ended, the mission continues.”
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
– Winston Churchill pic.twitter.com/ECoR8YeiMm
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 21, 2024
However, this quote has been falsely attributed to Churchill. According to the International Churchill Society, which studies the life and works of the late conservative politician, there is no record of Churchill ever uttering these words.
The society’s conclusion is based on extensive research into Churchill’s canon, which includes fifty million words by and about him, encompassing all of his books, articles, speeches, and papers.
“We can find no attribution for either one of these, and you will find that they are broadly attributed to Winston Churchill. They are found nowhere in his canon, however,” the society stated on its website.
In a further twist, DeSantis also announced his decision to endorse his political rival, the indicted former President Donald Trump. This move has raised eyebrows, given the contentious nature of their relationship throughout the campaign.
“It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance,” DeSantis said, acknowledging the popularity of his political rival.
The DeSantis campaign has yet to respond to requests for comment on the governor’s decision to falsely quote a British leader while ending his run for president of the United States. As the dust settles on his campaign, the political landscape awaits his next move with bated breath.
“I’m proud to have delivered on 100 percent of his promises, and I will not stop now,” DeSantis emphasized his achievements and future plans.
These quotes provide direct insights into DeSantis’s thoughts and the reactions to his campaign suspension. They also highlight the controversy surrounding his misattribution of the Churchill quote. Please note that these quotes should be used in a way that accurately represents their context.
