Former President Trump met privately with Mr. DeSantis last weekend, the first time since the Florida governor dropped out of the White House race in January.
“We had a great meeting yesterday,” former President Donald Trump wrote on the social network Truth Social on April 29, referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “The conversation focused primarily on how we can work together to make America great again.”
This is the first time Mr. Trump and Mr. DeSantis have met in person since the Florida governor stopped running for president in January. According to sources close to Mr. Trump, the meeting was arranged by luxury real estate developer Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend of the former president, and was requested by Mr. DeSantis.
Sources familiar with the matter said Mr DeSantis played golf at the Shell Bay Club in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Mr Trump later joined him for breakfast. One source described the meeting, which lasted several hours, as “nice and friendly”, adding that the Florida governor planned to raise money for Mr Trump.
Mr. DeSantis announced his candidacy for the US presidency in May 2023, and was described as a formidable opponent of Mr. Trump in the race for the Republican nomination. The two often attacked each other, with Mr. Trump describing the Florida governor as disloyal, a bad leader, and even giving him the nickname “DeSanctimonious”. The Florida governor said that the nickname showed that Mr. Trump was “petty and childish”.
After suspending his campaign on January 21, DeSantis said he was endorsing Mr Trump in this year’s election. Mr Trump has not yet chosen a running mate, but the Florida governor has long ruled out the position.
