Video above: Candidates make their pitches to voters in 3rd GOP presidential primary debate
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) -- Florida governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis joined CNN at Thursday for a town hall less than two weeks before the Iowa Caucus.
CNN is hosting the town halls at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa. The network hosted a second town hall featuring Republican candidate Nikki Haley at 10 p.m. immediately following the DeSantis town hall.
DeSantis started the town hall by giving CNN anchor Kaitlin Collins a Caitlin Clark basketball jersey in an apparent jab at Haley for mixing up the names of the anchor and the Iowa basketball star.
At his town hall, DeSantis took numerous shots at former President Donald Trump throughout the night, pointing out that many Trump-endorsed candidates have lost their elections over the last few years.
DeSantis said Trump had many opportunities to do the things he promised the first time he was elected, but didn't deliver on.
DeSantis, when asked about birthright citizenship, said it is being used as an excuse not to deport undocumented citizens -- something he said he would address on day one.
One Iowa voter asked DeSantis what he would do about the skyrocketing cost of housing, making it unattainable for many young people.
"We need to get interest rates down," he said.
DeSantis said both parties are responsible for spending an "ungodly" amount of money, which is contributing to unaffordable housing.
He said many young people are working hard and still falling behind, which is "taking the American Dream away."
DeSantis also said he would also eliminate the IRS and implement a single-rate flat tax.
Regarding Ukraine, DeSantis said he wants to end the war, but Europe should be supplying weapons to the country. He said the United States likes to get itself involved in conflicts without any idea what the endgame is.
DeSantis also hit on abortion, saying he thinks Florida's abortion law, and its exceptions, is "what I think the people wanted."
One voter asked DeSantis to define "patriotism" and whether or not he thinks the people involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot were patriotic.
"That was not a good day for the country," DeSantis said.
DeSantis talked about COVID-19 restrictions and how he worked with the Biden administration during Hurricane Ian.
"He could've tried to politicize it, and he didn't," DeSantis said. "Leaders got to lead and you have to put politics aside."
DeSantis hit on mental health and said there should be efforts to provide more mental health resources in schools, and said "can we please not try to politicize everything in this country?"
Another voter asked DeSantis what his biggest strength is, which he said was delivering on his promises.
"If I tell you I'm going to do something, you take it to the bank," he said. "We are going to deliver on it."
"Leadership is not about entertainment," he added. "Leadership is not about showmanship."
DeSantis is increasingly distancing himself from Trump as he looks for a notable finish in the Iowa caucuses, the GOP's first nominating contest, which is in less than two weeks. Trump continues to be a strong frontrunner in polls of Republican voters in Iowa and elsewhere, despite DeSantis' and Haley's best efforts to topple him.
DeSantis' campaign has hit some roadblocks in recent months, including reducing campaign staff and losing ground in the polls to Haley. A large Republican PAC, Americans for Prosperity Action, has chosen to endorse Haley.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.