Here’s who Trump may run with.
As former President Donald Trump has to contend with the growing popularity of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the GOP, the former President has indicated a willingness to have DeSantis be his running mate in 2024.
On Thursday (June 30), in an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty, Trump was asked about the possibility of a Trump-DeSantis ticket in 2024.
Despite not confirming his decision to run in 2024, Trump acknowledged that he has a good relationship with DeSantis before crediting himself as the source of DeSantis’ success.
Hinting at it becoming a possibility, Trump responded to the question, saying, “Well, I get along with him,” before adding, “I was very responsible for his success because I endorsed him, and he went up like a rocket ship.”
Since leaving office, Trump has been hinting at a potential 2024 Presidential bid, and for most of those 18 months, the former President has been the front runner, but as Trump’s grip on the GOP starts to loosen, DeSantis has emerged as a possible 2024 Presidential candidate.
DeSantis, who has repeatedly shut down speculation he intends to run in 2024, has also never expressly stated he would not run if Trump makes a comeback.
Rumors have also swirled that Trump has become frustrated with DeSantis’s popularity in the GOP, despite both men maintaining they have a good relationship when the subject emerges.
Yet, nowhere is a potential fray in the pair’s relationship more noticeable than Trump’s insistence that he is responsible for DeSantis growing popularity.
In 2018, when DeSantis, considered a longshot gubernatorial primary challenger to more established former state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Trump endorsed the now-Governor.
Trump’s endorsement led to DeSantis winning the GOP nomination and, eventually, Florida’s gubernatorial race.
But in the four years since Trump’s endorsement, DeSantis has made a name for himself in the Republican Party as a staunch conservative, becoming known for his business-saving and income-saving approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping Florida open while most other states shut down.
He’s also taken on Democratic leaders and the media when throwing his support behind more conservative issues.
