Trump, DeSantis Hold Private Meeting in South Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met former President Donald Trump in Miami on Sunday to discuss how he could help with the presidential campaign, as the two former competitors for the Republican presidential nomination appeared to reunite ahead of the November elections.

President Trump took to Truth Social Monday evening, confirming he had Mr. DeSantis’s “full and enthusiastic support” after the two had “a great meeting” on Sunday at Mr. Witkoff’s Shell Bay Club in Hollywood, Florida. President Trump also confirmed Mr. Witkoff, described as a “mutual friend” was the one who arranged it.

“The conversation mostly concerned how we would work closely together to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” President Trump wrote. “Also discussed was the future of Florida, which is FANTASTIC! I greatly appreciate Ron’s support in taking back our Country from the Worst President in the History of the United States. November 5th is a BIG DAY!!!

The private meeting was first reported by the Washington Post, which said that it was arranged by real estate broker Steve Witkoff, lasted multiple hours to quell the tensions between the two figures, and ended with Mr. DeSantis agreeing to help with the former president’s campaign.

That meeting was independently confirmed by The Epoch Times on the morning of April 29, the day after the meeting took place. However, no further details were provided.

The Epoch Times has also reached out to the Trump campaign.

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The meeting was the first between the two leaders since Mr. DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign in January.  The governor’s challenge was seen as an act of disloyalty after President Trump endorsed Mr. DeSantis’s gubernatorial effort in 2018. It drew the ire of the MAGA movement and its candidate, who awarded his rival the nickname “DeSanctimonious” amid other verbal attacks.

Mr. DeSantis held a press conference in Jupiter, Florida, on April 29 to announce funding for the Els Center of Excellence, and in a rare move, did not take any questions from the press, saying he was late for another event in Delray Beach.

News of the meeting between the two leaders was warmly received by Florida Republicans. Long-time DeSantis donor Tom Frederick told The Epoch Times that the endorsement and further support of Mr. DeSantis—whom he called “America’s Governor”—would “significantly influence the outcome” of President Trump’s campaign.

“He has propelled the state of Florida towards progress and prosperity, offering Floridians unparalleled leadership and the cherished gift of freedom,” Mr. Frederick said of Mr. DeSantis. “It is evident that President Trump, with his astute understanding of political dynamics, recognizes the value of securing the endorsement and backing of such a respected governor.”

Meanwhile, Santa Rosa County Republican Party Chair Sharon Regan, was openly critical of Mr. DeSantis’s decision to run for president, telling The Epoch Times that she felt “betrayed” as a Floridian and that this uniting action “should have happened earlier than now” avoiding “a whole lot of infighting in the state GOP.”

However, she said she is glad the governor and former president appear to have “made an accord,” describing Mr. DeSantis’s decision to endorse President Trump as “a resurrection in itself” and noting his decision to provide help goes above and beyond it.

President Biden’s campaign has highlighted ways in which President Trump attacked Ms. Haley’s base, making comments that her donors would be permanently barred from the MAGA movement.

“Nikki Haley voters have heard Donald Trump loud and clear: He doesn’t want their vote, and his allies don’t want them in his MAGA Republican Party,“ campaign spokesperson James Singer said in an April 29 statement. “At the Biden campaign, we will earn their vote.”

The Trump-DeSantis meeting has also sparked wide speculation about whether the governor would be offered a position in the former president’s potential cabinet, including Vice President, especially since Mr. DeSantis has not ruled out running again in 2028.

There is no confirmation that any such decisions were discussed during the April 28 meeting. However, that pairing could complicate things as the Constitution’s rules for the electoral college, according to attorney Jeff Childers, suggest possible complications, or at least controversy, for a president and vice president to be from the same state.

The Twelfth Amendment states, “The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves.”

This dilemma could possibly be solved by President Trump moving out of Florida, although Mr. DeSantis has previously stated publically that he has no interest in being vice president.

Austin Alonzo, Joseph Lord, Lawrence Wilson, and Terri Wu contributed to this report.