Donald J. Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida held a meeting on Sunday morning, marking their first encounter since the contentious Republican presidential primary that Mr. Trump emerged victorious from after attacking Mr. DeSantis relentlessly.
The meeting, which reportedly took place in Hollywood, Fla., was facilitated by real-estate investor Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend of Mr. Trump who also has ties to Mr. DeSantis. The three men met privately at Shell Bay, Mr. Witkoff’s development and golf club.
Mr. Trump is seeking to enhance his fundraising efforts, leveraging Mr. DeSantis’s demonstrated ability to attract well-funded donors during the primary. On the other hand, Mr. DeSantis, who has expressed interest in running for president again in 2028, aims to overcome the negative aspects of his previous campaign. The meeting was initially reported by The Washington Post.
A spokesperson for Mr. Trump did not respond to requests for comment, while a spokesperson for Mr. DeSantis declined to provide a statement.
Mr. DeSantis is not viewed as a potential running mate for Mr. Trump, who is the presumed Republican nominee and currently facing legal challenges in Manhattan. Both parties have made it clear that they are not interested in such a partnership, especially considering they both reside in Florida, making it constitutionally problematic unless one of them relocates.
During the primary race, Mr. DeSantis was seen as Mr. Trump’s main rival within the party, leading to tensions between their camps. Mr. Trump criticized Mr. DeSantis, giving him the moniker “Ron DeSanctimonious,” while Mr. DeSantis questioned Mr. Trump’s electability at various points. Despite their past differences, allies of both men believe that coming together for the upcoming campaign and beyond would be politically advantageous.
