Once a darling of defense hawks, Ron DeSantis retreats

Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton spoke at a fundraiser for Ron DeSantis in 2012.

Now Florida's governor and a likely presidential contender, De Santis has begun to move away from the hawkish rhetoric that won over Bolton a decade ago and carried on through his three terms in Congress.

In response to questions from Fox News host Tucker Carlson this week, he said protecting Ukraine is not a “vital national interest” for the US.

Bolton said he was disappointed by the move and said he is opening himself to being called a "flip-flopper".

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' hawkish positions have drawn criticism from rivals and boosters.

The Florida governor is the highest-polling alternative to Trump in a GOP primary that could feature several stridently anti-Trump candidates splitting the vote.

The Wall Street Journal's editorial board has criticized the Florida governor for his “puzzling surrender this week to the Trumpian temptation of American retreat”.