Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met in Miami, Florida for a several-hour long meeting, where DeSantis agreed to help Trump close his fundraising gap with President Biden in their potential 2024 election rematch. DeSantis, who was re-elected in 2022 before launching an unsuccessful bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has a network of wealthy donors that could be beneficial to Trump as the general election campaign heats up. The meeting was orchestrated by a Florida real estate broker known to both Trump and DeSantis.
The meeting between DeSantis and Trump appears to be the first time they have spoken, let alone met in person, since DeSantis ended his White House bid in January, after a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses. The former president and his allies had spent nearly a year attacking DeSantis during their competition for the GOP nomination. DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign just two days ahead of the New Hampshire primary and has since endorsed Trump, but has not actively campaigned on his behalf.
During a February call with supporters, DeSantis took aim at Trump and his top political advisers, suggesting that there are individuals in Trump’s inner circle who were part of DeSantis’ orbit years ago and have an ax to grind. In response, a top Trump campaign aide called DeSantis a “sad little man.” Despite the tensions between DeSantis and the Trump campaign, the former president may be more forgiving if it benefits him. Trump previously used a derogatory nickname, “Ron DeSanctimonious,” to attack DeSantis, but said he would retire it after DeSantis endorsed him in January.
DeSantis has built up a strong network of wealthy donors during his time as governor of Florida, which could be helpful to Trump as he seeks to close his fundraising gap with Biden. The two Republican leaders did not immediately respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital about the meeting. DeSantis previously ended his White House bid due to a disappointing finish in the Iowa caucuses, but has since endorsed Trump. Despite tensions between the two leaders and their respective campaigns, the meeting suggests a willingness to work together for the benefit of the GOP in the 2024 election.
The meeting between Trump and DeSantis was first reported by the Washington Post and was orchestrated by a Florida real estate broker known to both individuals. DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign just ahead of the New Hampshire primary and has not actively campaigned on behalf of Trump. While there were tensions between the two Republican leaders during their competition for the GOP nomination, Trump expressed a willingness to retire the derogatory nickname he used for DeSantis if it benefited him politically. The meeting signals a potential shift in their relationship as they work towards closing fundraising gaps and securing support for the 2024 election rematch.
