I think he's always been not a top-notch neocon. When he was in Congress, while the worst types like Pompeo favored regime change in both Libya and Syria, DeSantis opposed it in one of the two, I think Syria.

That said, I don't pay much heed to what they say. It's not as if politicians have actual beliefs. They'll say and do whatever gets them into office. The job of the people is to ensure that being awful doesn't get you into office, which is easier said than done.