- Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis haven’t spoken in months, The Washington Post reported.
- Trump in 2016 They endorsed DeSantis during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, but have not campaigned for him this year.
- Privately, Trump now “thanks” DeSantis, telling advisers, “I made it up,” WAPO reported.
Although former President Donald Trump Despite campaigning hard in 2018 to support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the one-time allies have distanced themselves amid rumors that they will soon launch competitive campaigns for the 2024 presidential election.
Sources familiar with the couple’s relationship told The Washington Post that Trump once said DeSantis would make a good vice president if he switched tickets in 2024, but the two have not spoken.
Privately, Trump called the man he once called his “great friend” to “thank” the Florida governor for his earlier support, according to the Washington Post.
“I did it,” Trump told aides as they tracked DeSantis’s public opinion and poll numbers, according to The Washington Post.
Both politicians have not officially announced their 2024 presidential bid, but are considered frontrunners in the upcoming race, which Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell predicts will be a “crowded” primary.
“I don’t understand what’s going on here,” Trump said of DeSantis’ dwindling support, according to The Washington Post. “I don’t understand why he doesn’t appreciate me more.”
Trump has made similar comments in the past, criticizing DeSantis for his “bland personality.”
In response, DeSantis took steps to distance himself from the former president along his campaign line, though he did not directly criticize Trump. His recent decision to fly asylum seekers to Martha’s Vineyard has angered the former president, according to reports from Rolling Stone, with political analysts arguing that DeSantis is drawing Trump’s attention and widening his competition.
The strategy seems to be working: DeSantis has raised $43 million for the former president this year, according to data compiled by OpenSecrets. Polls suggest the governor has an advantage over the former president in a tentative 2024 primary matchup.
Reps for Trump and DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.
