Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will appear alongside President-elect Donald Trump at the Army-Navy game on Saturday amid speculation about the governor’s future in MAGA world and who he’ll pick to fill a vacant Senate seat.
Mr. DeSantis has hardly been seen with Mr. Trump since launching his failed bid in the GOP primary, which earned him the Trump nickname “DeSanctimonious.”
Their bitter rivalry long over, Mr. DeSantis is a contender for a Cabinet position in the new Trump administration and is under pressure to appoint the president-elect’s daughter-in-law to fill the Senate seat Marco Rubio will vacate when he takes the job of Secretary of State.
“They actually have a pretty good working relationship now,” former DeSantis for President advisor Will Chamberlain said. “Even though there is still hostility between Trump World and DeSantis World, I think Trump and DeSantis have totally buried the hatchet and get along very well personally.”
Everyone will be watching the two reunite at Northwest Stadium in Landover — home of the Washington Commanders — and wondering what it means for Mr. DeSantis’ political future.
“It’ll be a high profile thing,” said Ed Rollins, a veteran GOP strategist who backed Mr. DeSantis early in his short-lived presidential campaign. “Trump is putting a team together and wants all the substantial people in the world. If he can pull in DeSantis and make it look like the two are no longer fighting and are basically going to be partners and doing a lot of stuff, it’s a good thing for both of them.”
Mr. DeSantis was elevated in Mr. Trump’s orbit after the president-elect nominated Mr. Rubio, a Republican, to serve as his top diplomat.
Under Florida law, Mr. DeSantis must appoint someone to fill out the next two years of Mr. Rubio’s Senate term.
Mr. Trump and his allies want Mr. DeSantis to appoint Lara Trump, who is married to son Eric Trump and who co-chaired the Republican National Committee that helped deliver a GOP sweep of government in November.
She’s a Florida resident and is interested in the job.
Mr. DeSantis hasn’t publicly commented on Ms. Trump and those familiar with the matter say Mr. Trump’s team has not spent much time lobbying Mr. DeSantis on the matter.
Mr. DeSantis is also considering appointing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to fill the seat.
Mr. Trump contacted the governor earlier this month to determine his interest in serving as defense secretary if the current nominee, Pete Hegseth, fails to win confirmation.
Mr. Hegseth this week appeared to salvage his chances of at least making it to his confirmation hearing. Some GOP senators have questioned his qualifications and bristled at anonymous misconduct allegations leveled against him.
If Mr. DeSantis doesn’t join the Trump administration he’ll be searching for an influential place to land after his second term expires in early 2027.
The term-limited governor, now 46, is likely eyeing a run for the 2028 GOP presidential nomination.
He’ll likely have to compete with J.D. Vance, now 40, who will by then have four years under his belt as Mr. Trump’s vice president and will almost certainly win the coveted endorsement of the president.
Vice presidents don’t necessarily become front-runners, however, and none have succeeded since George H.W. Bush in 1988.
“It’s not been a good place for vice presidents of late,” Mr. Rollins said.
Once his second term ends, Mr. DeSantis runs the risk of becoming less relevant in GOP circles, which could make it hard for him to launch another bid for president.
Jeb Bush, who served as Florida’s governor from 1999-2007, was crushed by Mr. Trump in his bid to win the GOP presidential primary in 2016, and some blamed his years out of office that left him rusty on the campaign trail and out of touch with voters.
Mr. DeSantis is signaling he plans to stay in the national headlines.
He publicly backed Mr. Trump’s move to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray, chiding Sen. Amy Klobuchar for claiming Mr. Wray must be allowed to serve his 10-year term.
“The Director serves at the pleasure of the president and can be removed for any reason or no reason at all,” Mr. DeSantis posted on social media. “President Trump has the right — and, given the performance of the agency, a duty — to replace Director Wray immediately upon taking office.”
Mr. DeSantis will also remain influential via his Florida Freedom Fund, which has raised millions of dollars for conservative candidates.
“Both DeSantis and Trump are going to do better with each other, whether the governor stays as governor or joins the administration,” Florida GOP strategist Jamie Miller said. “They are going to do better as a team. And it’s Trump’s team.”
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.