Trump hails ‘great meeting’ with DeSantis in Florida – their first conversation since the governor dropped out of the GOP primary

CNN
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Former President Donald Trump said Monday that he and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had a “great meeting” in Florida on Sunday.

The meeting — the first conversation since DeSantis withdrew from the Republican primary in January — was organized by longtime Trump friend and luxury real estate developer Steve Witkoff at DeSantis’ request, according to a source close to Trump. It was first reported by The Washington Post.

DeSantis was playing golf at the Shell Bay Club and agreed to have breakfast with Trump, according to a family source.

“We had a great meeting yesterday, hosted by mutual friend Steve Witkoff, at his beautiful Shell Bay Club in Hollywood, Florida,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Monday. “The conversation was mostly about how we would work together to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”

The presumptive Republican nominee noted that he was “very happy to have the full and enthusiastic support” of the Florida governor.

Witkoff will hold a fundraiser in Miami for Trump next Sunday, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by CNN.

DeSantis told donors and supporters at a thank you retreat earlier this month that he would help raise funds for Trump, two sources familiar with the details told CNN.

“I think his finance committee will certainly follow his example and his donors will,” Roy Bailey, a DeSantis supporter and Texas businessman, said Monday. “So I think you can create a lot of value for the Trump campaign.”

After his failed bid for the White House, DeSantis supported Trump in the Republican primary but has not appeared with the presumptive Republican nominee at any campaign events since.

As CNN reported in February, DeSantis has made a concerted effort to stay in touch with people who supported his presidential campaign, including donors and leaders in early nominated states, as he contemplates a 2028 bid.

“I haven’t ruled anything out,” he said in a private conversation with supporters at the time, according to multiple media outlets that reviewed a leaked recording confirmed to CNN by three people who heard the call. He also said on that conference call that he has no intention of serving as vice president.

CLARIFICATION: This story has been updated to clarify where Trump and DeSantis met in the Miami metro area on Sunday and to include Trump’s reaction.

CNN’s Steve Contorno and Alayna Treene contributed to this report.