(The hill) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) plans to raise funds for former President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign in the coming weeks.
The details have not yet been clarified, two people familiar with the matter said The Associated Press under the condition of anonymity. They said DeSantis has been calling donors and the finance team is working on a fundraising effort that would include stops in Florida and Texas, according to the AP.
The fundraising efforts followed months of political rivalry as DeSantis and Trump faced off in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
Although the governor of Florida is considered Trump’s biggest opponent, he was unable to catch up in the polls. Analysts said it was because he gave voters no reason to choose him over the former president.
Meanwhile, the former president criticized DeSantis at every turn, calling him “DeSanctimonious” and calling him a “lousy candidate.”
DeSantis ultimately suspended his presidential candidacy in January after failing to win support in the Iowa caucuses. He said it was “clear” that GOP voters wanted a second term for Trump and said he would support the former president because he has pledged to support the Republican nominee to challenge President Joe Biden.
At the end of April, Trump said he had one “Great meeting” with DeSantis, where they talked about their shared state of Florida and how they could work closely together across the country.
Roy Bailey, a Dallas investor who co-chaired DeSantis’ national finance committee during his campaign, told the AP that the Florida governor “has shown his commitment to the president and that’s why I say we will follow his lead.” , and why.” I think donors will follow his example.”
“We will focus on previous DeSantis donors who have not yet donated to President Trump,” he said. “We will try to find these donors for him. This will add great value.”
The news channel noted that the Florida governor may see the fundraising efforts as an opportunity to score political points down the line if Trump wins in November and he is unable to run again in 2028.
The Hill has reached out to DeSantis’ team, but a spokesperson said in a text to the AP that they are “actively working on plans to raise funds to support President Trump and other Republicans on the ballot.”
