3 weeks ago
Former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met privately successful Miami, Florida connected Sunday, a Republican pinch knowledge of nan gathering confirmed to Fox News.
During nan several-hour agelong meeting, DeSantis agreed to thief Trump arsenic nan GOP’s presumptive statesmanlike nominee tries to adjacent his fundraising spread pinch President Biden successful their 2024 predetermination rematch, nan root confirmed.
DeSantis, who was convincingly re-elected successful 2022 earlier launching an unsuccessful bid for nan 2024 Republican statesmanlike nomination, has built up a formidable web of able donors who could beryllium adjuvant to Trump arsenic nan wide predetermination run heats up.
News of nan gathering was first reported by nan Washington Post, which said nan get-together betwixt nan 2 rivals was orchestrated by Steve Witkoff, a Florida existent property agent known to some Trump and DeSantis.
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Ron DeSantis dropped retired of nan 2024 GOP title and endorsed erstwhile President Trump connected Sunday. (AP Photo, File)
The gathering appears to beryllium nan first clip DeSantis and Trump person spoken, fto unsocial met successful person, since nan politician ended his White House bid successful January, aft a disappointing 2nd spot decorativeness successful nan Iowa caucuses, acold down Trump.
The erstwhile president and his friends spent astir a twelvemonth attacking DeSantis arsenic nan 2 squared disconnected for nan GOP information that besides included different contenders.
DeSantis and Trump did not instantly respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital connected nan matter.
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Then-President Donald Trump greets Florida Republican gubernatorial campaigner Ron DeSantis arsenic his wife, Casey DeSantis, looks connected arsenic they are introduced during a run rally astatine nan Hertz Arena connected October 31, 2018 successful Estero, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
DeSantis suspended his statesmanlike run conscionable 2 days up of nan New Hampshire superior and has since endorsed Trump. But to date, DeSantis hasn’t campaigned connected behalf of Trump.
During a February telephone pinch supporters, nan politician took purpose astatine Trump and his apical governmental advisers.
"I deliberation he’s sewage group successful his soul circle who were portion of our orbit years agone that we fired, and I deliberation immoderate of that is they conscionable person an ax to grind," DeSantis said astatine nan time.
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Republican statesmanlike campaigner erstwhile President Donald Trump pumps his fist arsenic he departs aft speaking during nan Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, successful Oxon Hill, Md., Feb. 24, 2024. A Cook County judge ordered nan Illinois State Board of Elections to return erstwhile President Donald Trump's sanction disconnected of nan state's March 19 superior ballot Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, but placed her bid connected clasp until Friday to let an appeal. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Responding, apical Trump run adjutant Chris LaCivita called DeSantis a "sad small man."
While galore connected Trump’s squad and successful his wider governmental orbit detest DeSantis, nan erstwhile president whitethorn beryllium much forgiving, if it benefits him.
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Trump said successful January aft DeSantis endorsed him that he would "officially retire" nan derogatory "Ron DeSanctimonious" nickname he utilized many times to onslaught nan Florida politician for astir a year.
Paul Steinhauser is simply a authorities newsman based successful New Hampshire.
