Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing backlash from the Trump campaign and supporters for referring to some of the former president's supporters as "listless vessels." The remark was made during an interview with The Florida Standard, where DeSantis emphasized that a strong conservative movement should be based on principles and not solely on the personality of one individual. The comment drew comparisons to Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" remark during the 2016 election. Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung criticized DeSantis's comment, stating that the governor had gone "full-blown Hillary." A Trump-aligned super PAC also condemned DeSantis for his "disgraceful insult." In response, DeSantis campaign press secretary Bryan Griffin clarified that the remark was directed at Trump and his congressional allies, not his supporters. This criticism comes as DeSantis seeks to make up ground against Trump in the GOP primary while trying to maintain support from the former president's base. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension within the Republican Party as candidates navigate the legacy of Trump and appeal to his supporters.