Florida’s governor has announced plans to raise money for his former rival.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met privately with former President Donald Trump in Miami on Sunday morning, multiple sources told ABC News, marking the latest development in the two men’s rocky relationship following a primary GOP controversy in which Trump won over DeSantis.
DeSantis requested the meeting with Trump via mutual contact in hopes of “burying the hatchet,” according to a source familiar with the interaction.
Real estate investor Steve Witkoff arranged the meeting, a second source said. DeSantis had breakfast with Trump while he played golf.
DeSantis’ office declined to comment; The Trump campaign did not respond to a request from ABC News.
The Washington Post was first to report news of the meeting.
The race for the 2024 Republican nomination saw Trump, the Republican Party’s standard-bearer, and DeSantis, a rising conservative star, face off head-to-head.
But DeSantis quickly endorsed Trump once he left the race after a distant second place in the Iowa caucuses in January.
“While I have had disagreements with Donald Trump, such as over the coronavirus pandemic and his rise to power, [COVID-19 adviser] According to Anthony Fauci, Trump is superior to current President Joe Biden. That’s clear,” DeSantis said then, to which Trump later responded, “I appreciate that and I look forward to working with Ron as well.”
Earlier this month, DeSantis privately signaled that he planned to raise money for the former president’s 2024 efforts at a donor retreat, a source confirmed to ABC News.
ABC News’ Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.
