Former President Trump is aiming to close the fundraising gap with President Biden in a rematch in 2024, and is likely to receive support from his former arch-rival in the race for the 2024 Republican nomination.
“I am very pleased to have the full and enthusiastic support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis,” President Trump declared in a social media post on Monday.
As a result of weekend talks between the two Republican leaders, top Republican donors from the formidable DeSantis donor network are expected to appear at the Trump Global Donors Summit in Palm Beach, Florida, in the coming days. be done.
President Trump said his Sunday morning breakfast with DeSantis at a golf course in Hollywood, Florida, was a “great meeting” aimed at repairing relations between the two, who were once enemies in the presidential primary. Stated.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (left) and former President Trump (Getty Images, Associated Press)
“The main conversation was about how we can work closely together to make America great again,” Trump said.
This is the first time DeSantis and Trump have met in person, let alone since the governor gave up his bid for the White House in January after finishing a disappointing second place to Trump in the Iowa caucuses. It seems that.
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The former president and his allies have pushed DeSantis, who was seen as the biggest threat to Trump in the presidential nomination race that grew to more than a dozen Republican White House candidates last summer, to nearly 1. It has been attacked repeatedly over the years.
DeSantis supported President Trump, who suspended his presidential campaign just two days before the New Hampshire primary. But so far, Mr. DeSantis has not campaigned on Mr. Trump’s behalf.
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is on the campaign trail in Hampton, New York, on January 17, 2024. DeSantis ended his presidential bid four days later. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
In a call with supporters in February, the governor criticized Trump and his top political advisers.
“I think there are people in his inner circle that were in orbit that we fired years ago. I think some of them are just people with an ax to grind,” DeSantis said. he said at the time.
In response, Trump campaign aide Chris Lacivita called DeSantis a “sad little man.”
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While much of Mr. Trump’s team and his broader political circle dislike Mr. DeSantis, the former president may be more forgiving if it benefits him.
In reading out the details of the meeting, President Trump said, “I’m very grateful for Mr. Ron’s support,” and appeared to praise the conservative governor’s accomplishments in steering the Sunshine State during his second term, adding, “I’m very grateful for the future of Florida.” We talked about it. That’s great!”
Former President Trump joins law enforcement officials at election event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, April 2, 2024 (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
Although Mr. DeSantis failed to capture Mr. Trump’s Republican nomination, he succeeded in amassing an extensive network of wealthy donors and was able to build a convincing re-election bid for governor in 2022 and a bid for the White House in 2024. provided funding.
DeSantis told contributors at a recent donor retreat that he intends to raise money for the entire Republican field, from President Trump to school board races, sources told Fox News. Admitted.
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“He’s going to make good on his promise to support the party,” said the oil drilling company CEO and prominent Republican donor who raised millions for Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign and supported DeSantis in the 2024 nomination race. said Dan Eberhart, sponsor and sponsor.
Everhart, who has returned to support Trump and attended a major fundraiser for the former president earlier this month, said DeSantis “remains a formidable figure. “Is there anyone who has raised more money than him?”
“I absolutely think Governor DeSantis can raise some decent money for Mr. Trump, and Mr. Trump needs the money.”
Trump’s political sources say the meeting between the former president and the Florida governor was proposed weeks ago by DeSantis and his allies, and that Trump is working with a Florida real estate broker whom Trump calls a “mutual friend.” -It was said to have been orchestrated by Mr. Witkoff. . ”
People familiar with the meeting told Fox News that Trump and DeSantis spoke for several hours at Shelvey Golf Club in Witkoff and “ended with Governor DeSantis’ promise to do whatever was helpful.”
A meeting between Trump and DeSantis is likely to benefit the former president in the short term as his showdown with Biden heats up in the general election, but it could also benefit DeSantis in the future. be.
Mr. DeSantis highlighted the Florida governor’s fight over the past several years against what he called a “woke” culture in politics, business and education, which has garnered him national support among conservatives. However, the governor’s brand took a huge hit under President Trump’s onslaught, and he abandoned his bid for the White House.
DeSantis is focused on his political future after his term as Florida governor ends, which could include re-election, but his political allies say he has a tense relationship with the United States. He says that if he continues, it will be difficult for him to succeed. Mr. Trump.
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