Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is taking steps to thaw relations with former President Trump, his primary-season rival, as he considers his next political move — including another potential White House bid in 2028.
DeSantis met with Trump in a private meeting in Miami over the weekend, the first time he had spoken with the former president since dropping out of the White House race following disappointing showings in the early-voting states.
The meeting underscores DeSantis’s need to repair relations with Trump if he intends to run for another office in the future, something many say is likely.
“It’s a win-win for both of them,” said Ford O’Connell, a Florida Republican strategist. “Trump can use as many strong fundraisers and strong messengers as possible, and I think being in Trump’s good graces bodes well for DeSantis’s political future.”
