In a surprising turn of events, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is now slated to address former President Donald Trump’s nominating convention next week in Milwaukee.
This last-minute addition to the Republican National Convention (RNC) schedule marks a dramatic shift in the relationship between the one-time rivals.
Just 24 hours earlier, DeSantis was expected to be a no-show at the convention. Now, he’s secured a speaking slot, according to an insider familiar with the schedule.
This sudden change has sent shockwaves through political circles, leaving many wondering: what’s behind this unexpected olive branch?
The Trump-DeSantis rivalry defined much of the early 2024 Republican primary season. Trump’s mocking nickname “DeSanctimonious” and DeSantis’s critiques of the former president’s record were regular features of the campaign trail. But since DeSantis’s swift exit and endorsement of Trump after the Iowa caucuses, both camps have been working towards a peace treaty.
They seem to have struck a deal.
This reconciliation hasn’t been without its bumps. Lingering tensions between their camps and the worries from Trump’s inner circle about the risks of elevating former primary opponents to the convention stage have complicated matters. The specter of Sen. Ted Cruz’s infamous non-endorsement speech at the 2016 RNC still looms large in Republican memory.
Trump, speaking on Fox News Radio, drew a sharp contrast between DeSantis and another former rival, Nikki Haley.
“You know, there was a lot of bad blood there,” Trump said of Haley. “She stayed too long.”
On DeSantis, however, Trump was more conciliatory: “He left after Iowa because he said there was no way he could win.”
The convention speech isn’t DeSantis’s first olive branch — but it is by far the biggest.
Previously, the Florida governor had headlined fundraisers for Trump in Florida and Wyoming and is scheduling September events in Texas. At a May fundraiser in Fort Lauderdale, Trump reportedly praised DeSantis, saying, “Ron, I love that you’re back.”
As the RNC approaches, all eyes will be on DeSantis’s speech. One thing’s certain: in the high-stakes game of Republican politics, this unexpected convention appearance could be a defining moment for both Trump and DeSantis.
The political world will be watching closely as this latest chapter in the Trump-DeSantis saga unfolds on the convention stage in Milwaukee.