Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, once GOP rivals in the primary, had a pow-wow in South Florida's Hallandale Beach, reigniting conversations about GOP unity heading into the 2024 general election. The meeting, which stretched over hours, was held yesterday – a strategic play for the two heavyweights to discuss the campaign trail ahead, as reported by CBS News.
According to a CBS News source, the rendezvous was at DeSantis' behest, orchestrated by Steve Witkoff, a luxurious real estate investor and a Trump campaign financier. Playing golf at the exclusive Shell Bay Club before breaking bread, DeSantis found time alongside his swings to delve into political strategy, as a source familiar with the meet detailed.
Once fierce competitors, the two Republicans' detente holds implications for fundraising momentum; Trump, currently trailing President Joe Biden on the financial battlefield, could benefit from the extensive network that DeSantis commands. This point was echoed at an April retreat for donors, where DeSantis assured supporters that he'd be an ally in raising funds not just for Trump, but for Republican candidates across the board, a fundraiser in attendance revealed to CBS News.
In a previous phone exchange with his own backers, DeSantis hinted that the fiscal tide needs to be turned, warning that Republicans could be drowned in a 3-to-1 spending spree by Democrats – a concern shared with call participants, as one attendee recounted.
Looking further down the road, DeSantis appears to be keeping his political future open, having not "ruled anything out," when prodded about a 2028 presidential run during a February call, as reported by WSVN. His earlier endorsement of Trump – post his own White House aspirations – has yet to see him join the former President at campaign events, but with midterm elections approaching, the landscape is rife for political recalibration.
Steve Witkoff is expected to throw a fundraiser for Trump next Sunday in Miami, information obtained by a copy of the event's invitation and shared by CNN, possibly marking the start of a united front for the GOP's push towards November.
