Former President Donald Trump met privately with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Miami on Sunday to discuss how the governor could contribute to his 2024 presidential campaign, according to a person familiar with the meeting. .
The Washington Post, which first reported the meeting, said DeSantis ultimately agreed to support the former president. The rally came as a surprise because relations between Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis had cooled since the governor lost his presidential bid.
After Mr. DeSantis withdrew from the 2024 race in January, Mr. Trump and his aides said they wanted to use the governor’s fundraising efforts to support the general election. Before his presidential bid stalled, Mr. DeSantis was seen as a prolific fundraiser and popular governor who was seen as trying to lead the Republican Party into a post-Trump era.
But it wasn’t clear whether Republican governors would sign on to support President Trump’s re-election bid. Trump and DeSantis supported the former president after he withdrew from the 2024 race, but they were at times bitterly at odds.
While the former president used highly personal words such as “Desanctimonious” for the Florida governor, Mr. DeSantis carefully spent much of his campaign attacking Mr. Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination.
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DeSantis ramped up his attacks toward the end of the campaign, but ultimately told supporters, “It’s clear that the vast majority of Republican voters want to give Donald Trump another chance.” Ta.
But despite the back-and-forth between the two Republicans, DeSantis discussed supporting Trump on Sunday. This could give the president access to a wide network in Florida and across the country, as he needs campaign funds and extensive legal fees.
President Joe Biden currently has an overwhelming lead over President Trump in 2024 fundraising. In March, it reported that Mr. Biden and his fellow Democrats had more than twice as much cash on hand as Mr. Trump and his fellow Republicans.
And President Trump is currently facing a financial crisis, as well as four criminal trials and two huge financial judgments after losing two civil lawsuits. He posted $91.6 million bail in a defamation case filed by author E. Gene Carroll and $175 million bail in a fraud case involving falsification of business records.
But with speculation mounting about Trump’s 2024 running mate, Sunday’s meeting between Trump and DeSantis probably doesn’t signal a ticket to the Republican Party this year.
Trump aides have said DeSantis is unlikely to be chosen as vice president, especially after the Florida governor questioned Trump’s criteria for selecting a running mate.
“Ron DeSantis lost the presidential election and has no say in choosing the next vice president of the United States,” Trump campaign national spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said in February.
Contributors: Carissa Wadick and Zach Anderson, USA TODAY
