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Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
CNN
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Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met for several hours in Miami on Sunday, according to a person close to Trump.
The meeting, the first since Mr. DeSantis withdrew from the Republican primary in January, was arranged by Mr. DeSantis through Mr. Trump’s longtime friend and luxury real estate developer Steve Witkoff, the people said. The arrangement was said to have been made upon request. The Washington Post first reported it.
Sources said Mr. DeSantis was playing golf at the Shelvey Club and agreed to have breakfast with Mr. Trump.
Witkoff will host a fundraiser for Trump in Miami next Sunday, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by CNN.
Two sources familiar with the details told CNN that Mr. DeSantis told donors and supporters at a thank-you party earlier this month that he would help raise money for Mr. Trump.
After his failed bid for the White House, DeSantis supported Trump in the Republican primary, but he has not appeared at a campaign event with the presumptive Republican candidate since then.
As CNN reported in February, DeSantis has been working hard to stay in touch with those supporting his presidential campaign, including donors and early candidate state leaders, with an eye toward the 2028 presidential election. Ta.
“I’m not ruling anything out,” he said in private conversations with supporters at the time, according to media outlets that have reviewed the leaked recordings and confirmed to CNN three people who heard the calls. That’s what it means. He also said on the call that he does not intend to serve as vice president.
This story has been updated with additional details.
CNN’s Kit Maher, Steve Contorno and Alaina Trine contributed to this report.
