Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has denied he has plans to serve as Donald Trump’s running mate.
“I am not doing that,” DeSantis said on an audio call claimed in an interview with the New York Post in February.
But it seems DeSantis still wants a role in the campaign, according to two insiders’ bombshell remarks to the Associated Press.
DeSantis is reportedly planning to join Trump’s presidential campaign to raise money for former President Donald Trump in the coming weeks. DeSantis is honoring his commitment to help his former rival win the presidential race, a commitment reportedly made at last month’s private meeting between Trump and DeSantis.
“We are actively working on plans to fundraise in support of President Trump, as well as other Republicans up and down the ballot,” Taryn Fenske, a DeSantis spokesperson, told the Associated Press in a text message.
The Florida Republican is planning to stop in both Florida and Texas, despite his distant relationship with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
The governor’s team is still working to finalize the plans, according to the two insiders, and he may need to shift them.
Still, DeSantis is already calling donors… and the donors really, really like DeSantis.
DeSantis raised more than $183 million toward his ultimately unsuccessful Republican presidential primary campaign. The super PAC Never Back Down can receive unlimited sums of money, and it raised approximately 145, the vast majority of that $183 million.
The Florida Republican also raised more than $200 million toward his 2022 campaign for re-election… and he won by 19 points.
Following his 2022 victory, DeSantis briefly outperformed Trump’s poll numbers in Iowa, New Hampshire, and other early-voting states in the GOP’s primary. However, DeSantis soon saw his campaign lose steam, as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley became the alternative to Trump.
At the time, Trump taunted DeSantis, 45, as “DeSanctimonious.” Now the two are rebuilding their relationship with the same common goal: defeat President Joe Biden.
The band is back together.
In the event of a 2024 victory, Trump would become ineligible to run in 2028… and he would owe DeSantis a favor.
“He’s shown his commitment to the president and that’s why I say we’ll follow his lead, and why I think donors will follow his lead,” Roy Bailey, a co-chairman of DeSantis’ national finance committee during his presidential campaign, told the Associated Press without necessarily confirming the reports.
“We will be focused on past DeSantis donors who have yet to donate to President Trump. We’re going to try to mine those donors for him. That will create a lot of value.”
Haley has yet to endorse Trump or — especially — appear at any campaign fundraisers.