HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Ron DeSantis is on good terms with his most loyal donors and, at least for the weekend, ignored Donald Trump.
At a South Florida retreat for gubernatorial donors that featured golf, cigars and spa time, DeSantis thanked and wooed some of the most enthusiastic supporters of his presidential bid, with little mention of the Republican Party's presumptive nominee. Part of the weekend was also about brainstorming ways to keep Florida front and center of the conservative movement with more than two and a half years left as governor.
DeSantis donor Robert Salvador said the governor's team “maybe told me 10 times that we still have three years to do all this.” We have three years to make this a beacon of freedom and to keep it a beacon of freedom.”
But what went unsaid all weekend were DeSantis' ambitions for another presidential run and substantive comments from Gov. Trump, his one-time rival for the Republican nomination, who was holding a massive fundraiser at the billionaire's Palm Beach home. One hour away by car. Trump still lives in Florida and is often the biggest news story of the day.
DeSantis kept his promise to support Trump immediately after he was eliminated from the presidential election, but he did not aggressively argue that Trump should defeat President Joe Biden in November. In fact, the opposite was true. In previous interviews and early virtual meetings with donors, DeSantis has criticized Trump for using “identity politics” in choosing a running mate and for weaknesses in the general election. Trump and his campaign applauded DeSantis by mocking him in a cruel and personal way.
But at an event held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino over the weekend, DeSantis appeared to hold off on criticizing the president and instead focus on the remaining years of his administration.
The Trump campaign declined to comment for this story, but the timing of the campaign has irritated some Republicans who want DeSantis to take on Trump more forcefully as the former president attempts to close his fundraising gap with Biden. Dennis Lennox, a Republican operative who helped prepare a letter on behalf of Michigan Republicans urging DeSantis to run for president, said the timing of the retreat overlaps in part with the Trump incident and “sparks a narrative that he's disparaging Trump.” said. .”
Another veteran GOP operative, who was granted anonymity to discuss the case without retaliation, said DeSantis' case was a bad look and Republicans are trying to beat Democrats, especially with the six-week abortion ban DeSantis signed into law in Florida. He said he was trying to win over the Democratic Party. To take effect in less than a month, one Democratic lawmaker plans to take on Republicans.
“The optics are crazy,” said someone who wasn’t at the retreat. “The presidential election is underway. [DeSantis] Couldn't wait until after November? He is launching his presidential campaign in the midst of a presidential campaign. Another tone deaf move.”
DeSantis said at a recent news conference that he plans to help Republicans across the country, but did not specify any races. On Saturday, DeSantis told the audience that he would raise money for Republicans, including in the presidential race. Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican who supported DeSantis for president, also spoke on a panel Saturday and said he wants Trump to beat Biden in November.
The retreat, planned months ago, wasn't ostensibly about DeSantis running for president in 2028, but the governor said he didn't rule it out, and retreat attendees widely expressed interest in seeing the 45-year-old take on another run. I admitted it. White House. Until then, they see the potential for him to lead conservatives as governor.
“government. “DeSantis can set the direction for other states and the rest of the country through state-level ideas and legislation,” Roy Bailey, one of three finance chairs for DeSantis’ presidential campaign, said ahead of the retreat.
In a speech to donors Friday night, DeSantis again touched on familiar themes, boasting about Florida's low taxes, “freedom” and “law and order” to the scores of donors in attendance. State officials held a panel on Florida policies covering everything from school vouchers to voting laws. Fight Right, a political action committee that emerged late in the campaign and organized the retreat, held breakout sessions with donors and former president's campaign staff.
“I was a little surprised by the lack of sexiness.” One retreat attendee spoke on condition of anonymity about the event, which was not open to the media. The person said that at a breakout group attended by DeSantis Saturday morning, attendees primarily discussed policy, how much the governor should talk about Florida and whether DeSantis should focus on spreading his conservative message more broadly. .
He added, “I was surprised that 2028 was not discussed at all.”
Donors have encouraged DeSantis to get more media exposure, something the governor has expressed regret about. Supporters and critics alike have many opinions about what DeSantis did wrong, including pushing too many right-wing policies to get voters' attention during a short-term presidential election, using an inexperienced campaign staff, mismanaging money, and overall incompetence. expressed. To communicate with voters
Supporters disagree about whether he has pursued Trump too hard or not enough, and they worry he has given Never Back Down, the presidential bid's main PAC, too much power to run a traditional campaign.
But despite the many criticisms of his campaign, DeSantis has maintained a busy schedule, returning to Florida to sign legislation, traveling the state to promote his agenda, and resuming his daily activities. The first family in Florida is even talking about getting a second dog for the governor's mansion to accompany the rescue they brought in shortly after DeSantis was trampled by Trump in Iowa.
On Friday night, DeSantis was relaxed, friendly and mingled with the 150 retreat guests in attendance as if he were in his shoes, donors said. DeSantis has been making overtures to donors since dropping out of the presidential race in January after gaining a reputation for failing to show donors the appreciation and attention he usually receives from politicians.
“He’s not in the campaign anymore,” said George Heisel, a donor who lives in Miami. “He’s just serving Florida.”