In a radio interview on Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida chastised former President Donald J. Trump for planning to skip a gathering of presidential candidates in Iowa this weekend, in addition to for not committing to a Republican Party debate subsequent month.

“Nobody is entitled to this nomination,” Mr. DeSantis informed the conservative radio host Howie Carr. “You have got to earn the nomination.”

He added, “I’ll be at all the debates because the American people deserve to hear from us directly about our vision for the country and about how we’re going to be able to beat Joe Biden.”

Mr. DeSantis’s feedback have been an indication that he’s persevering with to step up his criticisms of Mr. Trump, his most important rival for the Republican nomination, who has maintained a large lead over the governor in nationwide polling. As the race shifts into a better gear, the candidates searching for to unseat Mr. Trump because the front-runner will hope for as many probabilities as potential to attract contrasts with him, particularly at debates and boards.

So far, Mr. Trump has not dedicated to taking part in an Aug. 23 debate in Milwaukee for Republican candidates. His advisers have stated he’s unlikely to take action, each due to his commanding lead within the polls and due to his hostile relationship with Fox News, which is internet hosting the talk.

And Mr. Trump has additionally determined to not attend the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines this weekend, which is able to characteristic appearances by Mr. DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, former Vice President Mike Pence and different 2024 hopefuls. The occasion is organized by influential leaders among the many state’s evangelical Christians, who’re a key voting bloc within the Republican caucuses.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Mr. Trump, dismissed Mr. DeSantis’s criticisms, accusing him of “throwing a temper tantrum because he is losing so badly.”

“DeSantis should focus on his own flailing campaign,” Mr. Cheung stated in a press release. He added that Mr. Trump “holds a commanding lead because voters know he is the only person who can beat Joe Biden and take the White House back.”

Winning the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 15 is a crucial part of Mr. DeSantis’s technique. He has moved to Mr. Trump’s proper on social points like homosexual rights and abortion, in a possible try to attach with evangelical voters there.

In latest days, Mr. DeSantis’s marketing campaign has sought to spotlight Mr. Trump’s absence in Iowa, in addition to the previous president’s social media sniping at Gov. Kim Reynolds, who’s in style with conservatives within the state.

In his radio interview on Wednesday, Mr. DeSantis additionally criticized Mr. Trump for “failing to deliver” on his 2016 marketing campaign guarantees of “draining the swamp” and constructing a wall on the southern border. And he stated that two of Mr. Trump’s coverage proposals for 2024 — constructing futuristic new cities on federal land and permitting dad and mom to directly elect public college principals — have been “not good ideas.”

“Every candidate needs to be put to the test,” Mr. DeSantis stated, “and I think he needs to step up and do it.”