DeSantis expressed plans to help Trump raise funds for 2024 campaign
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – At a recent event with donors, Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed that he plans to help former President Donald Trump raise cash to defeat President Joe Biden in November.
Florida’s Voice independently confirmed with multiple sources present at the event that DeSantis made the comments. NBC first reported the news.
While DeSantis endorsed Trump for president in his campaign dropout announcement, speculation continued about potential ongoing ill will between the two.
Frequently branding himself as a team player, DeSantis hopes to raise funds not only for Trump, but for Republicans down ballot in general.
Senior advisor to Trump’s 2024 campaign Brian Hughes told Florida’s Voice that the campaign has not been contacted, nor has it confirmed, that the Florida governor plans to or is working to raise funds for Trump.
“We welcome all Republican leaders joining the effort to work with President Trump’s campaign and the RNC to win the White House, majorities for the US House and Senate, and Republicans all the way down the ballot,” Hughes said.
Robert Salvador, who was present at the donor event, told Florida’s Voice that the retreat included “no ill will or bad intentions directed at the former president.”
“The event highlighted the nonstop wins for conservatives in Florida while pushing the idea that [DeSantis], [First Lady] Casey [DeSantis], his team want to keep winning in Florida and do what they can do bring that success to other red governors and Republicans running up and down the ballot – which includes Trump,” Salvador said.
“[Trump] has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear,” DeSantis said earlier this year.
The Florida governor also recently defended Trump against claims the former president faces electoral weakness within the GOP based on his Florida primary performance, with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley garnering around 14% of the vote despite having dropped out. Mail-in ballots had gone out before she suspended her campaign.
Money has been a focus of the presidential campaign as the 2024 cycle has kicked up. Worries have mounted that Biden is outraising Trump, the Biden campaign drumming up over $90 million in March alone.
However, Trump’s team is quickly looking to close that gap. The former president raised $50 million in a single night over the weekend in Florida. More high-dollar fundraisers are on the way, including one on Wednesday in Atlanta, and another in Orlando.
As campaign season has kicked up, national polls have narrowed in Biden’s favor, while Trump maintains leads in swing state polling, according to RealClearPolling’s aggregates.
