“If you’re going to do huge conservative things that are going to reorient the country for a generation, fine. But I saw no indication that the current group of Republican senators were interested in doing that type of bold conservative change.”
The Florida governor did not stop there. He proceeded to identify several immigration-related measures that he believes should have been priorities during the Republican-controlled Congress.
“Why haven’t we done immigration, shut off H-1B visas? Why haven’t we codified Trump’s immigration executive orders?”
He also questioned why Republican lawmakers had not taken more aggressive steps to limit the federal judiciary’s involvement in deportation proceedings.
“Why haven’t we stripped jurisdiction from the federal courts over deportation cases? There’s so many things that could have been done. They didn’t even attempt it, Laura.”
For DeSantis, the problem extends beyond disagreements over individual bills. He appears increasingly convinced that Republican leadership lacks the determination to use its political power effectively.
His comments amounted to a direct rebuke of Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other establishment Republicans who have frequently cited procedural hurdles and insufficient votes as reasons for failing to advance major conservative priorities.
DeSantis dismissed those explanations, arguing that Republican senators have not demonstrated a genuine willingness to pursue ambitious conservative legislation, even when the circumstances should have allowed them to act.
“They would say, ‘Oh, if only we needed 50 votes, we would have done it.’ You don’t have 50 votes for doing conservative things. You’ve never shown that you’ll do conservative things even with 50 votes.”
The governor also acknowledged that the midterm results reflected widespread dissatisfaction with the president and congressional Republicans.
“And look, this midterm, no question, was a rebuke of the president and the Congress by Democrats, independents, and some Republicans that crossed over.”
However, DeSantis suggested that the Republican losses cannot be explained entirely by voters who opposed Trump. He believes frustration within the conservative base played an important role as well.
Many Republican supporters, he argued, simply became discouraged after watching lawmakers repeatedly promise action without producing meaningful results.
“But a lot of our voters who stayed home, they stayed home because they were frustrated with the lack of productivity from Republicans in the House and Senate.”
WATCH:
DE SANTIS DEMANDS SENATE REPUBLICANS ACT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
Perhaps the most urgent portion of DeSantis’s message concerned President Trump’s judicial nominees.
With Democrats preparing to assume control of the Senate on January 3, 2027, the Florida governor is demanding that Republicans use their remaining time in the majority to confirm as many conservative judicial nominees as possible.
His proposed solution is simple: Forget the traditional Senate schedule and keep lawmakers working until the remaining vacancies are filled.
DeSantis issued an unmistakable challenge to Republican senators:
“ROLL IN COTS to the US Senate Cloakroom! Have them work around the clock. You are NOT gonna be able to confirm ANY conservative judges starting Jan. 3 for the remainder of President Trump’s term.”
He also warned Republicans against assuming that a small number of Democratic senators might eventually help advance Trump’s nominees once the new majority takes control.
“54 for sure, may end up with 56. Even if you got some red state Dems to flip, you are NOT getting 6 Dems.”
His message concluded with a demand that leaves little room for interpretation.
“Make sure EVERY VACANCY IS FILLED between NOW and Jan. 3.”
The warning highlights the enormous political consequences of losing control of the Senate. Once Democrats assume the majority, Trump’s ability to secure confirmation of conservative judicial nominees could face a much tougher road.
THUNE’S SAVE AMERICA ACT BATTLE RETURNS TO THE SPOTLIGHT
DeSantis’s criticism also brings renewed attention to the growing divide between grassroots conservatives and Republican leadership in Washington.
One of the clearest examples has been the ongoing fight over the SAVE America Act, a major election-integrity priority championed by President Trump.
As previously reported by The Gateway Pundit, Thune rejected Trump’s June demand to attach the legislation to the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
Thune argued that combining the two measures could jeopardize the surveillance legislation, while maintaining that Republicans did not have sufficient support to overcome Democratic opposition.
The disagreement frustrated conservatives who expected Republican lawmakers to make election integrity a central legislative priority.
The conflict continued into August, when Thune reportedly encouraged Republican voters to direct their frustration toward Democrats rather than Senate GOP leadership.
Instead of eliminating the legislative filibuster to advance the SAVE America Act, Thune suggested that Republicans should make the issue a central campaign priority and work toward electing additional GOP lawmakers.
That approach now faces uncomfortable questions following the November 3 election results.
President Trump had already warned Republican senators in September that failing to enact the SAVE America Act could have serious consequences for the party’s political future.
He specifically called on Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster if necessary and move the legislation forward.
Yet the measure remained stalled.
For conservatives who believed Republicans had been given a mandate to deliver meaningful changes, the lack of legislative progress has become a major source of resentment.
DeSantis is now making that frustration impossible for Republican leadership to ignore.
His message is particularly relevant as the party prepares to surrender control of Congress and confront a Democratic majority that will have little incentive to advance Trump’s agenda.
Republicans may soon find themselves looking back at the time they controlled Washington and wondering why they failed to accomplish more.
And as DeSantis’s remarks make clear, many conservative voters are already asking that question.
