Donald Trump did not rule out a ticket that would include popular Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as his vice president should he run for the White House in 2024.
Trump was questioned about the possibility in an interview with Newsmax’s Rob Finnerty.
“Could you envision a world, sir, where there is a Trump-DeSantis ticket?” Finnerty asked.
The former President pointed out he has a positive relationship with DeSantis and credited himself for the Florida Governor’s success and popularity.
“Well, I get along with him,” Trump replied. “I was very responsible for his success, because I endorsed him and he went up like a rocket ship.”
Trump then noted several other endorsements he’s made that have led to political success before the conversation veered off in another direction.
EXCLUSIVE: On Thursday’s “Wake Up America,” @RobFinnertyUSA asked fmr. President Donald Trump if his family supported a possible 2024 presidential campaign. pic.twitter.com/SKPGsYesKL
— Newsmax (@newsmax) June 30, 2022
RELATED: Trump: ‘I’d Beat’ Ron DeSantis If I Run in 2024
A Trump-DeSantis Ticket in 2024?
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As is typical of his style of considering everything, Trump has kept the option of including DeSantis on the ticket if he runs in 2024 open for quite some time.
In a June 2021 interview, he was asked if he would consider DeSantis as his number two guy.
“Sure I would,” Trump replied.
Notice here that while Trump acknowledges that Ron DeSantis could be a potential 2024 running mate, the name Mike Pence doesn’t come up once even though Trump says he’s considering “numerous people that are great.” pic.twitter.com/9AR81RZotN
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) June 7, 2021
Still, Trump likes to remind people – including DeSantis – who he believes is the top dog.
This past October he suggested he’d beat every candidate in the GOP field if he runs in 2024, including conservative favorite DeSantis.
“I don’t think I will face him,” he said of DeSantis. “I think most people would drop out, I think he would drop out.”
If DeSantis kept campaigning? Well, Trump believes he’d meet the same fate as anybody else who tries to stop him from getting the Republican nomination.
“If I faced him, I’d beat him like I would beat everyone else,” he bragged.
EXCLUSIVE: Trump on a 2024 GOP primary vs. Ron DeSantis: ‘I’d beat him like I would beat everyone else’ via @benwerschkul https://t.co/VwgoJnzIZt pic.twitter.com/CAZK6mKLP9
— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) October 3, 2021
RELATED: Trump: ‘Sure I Would’ Consider Making DeSantis His Running Mate Over Pence
DeSantis Has Been Making Moves in the Polls
One has to wonder if Trump at this point would consider putting DeSantis on the Republican ticket for President in 2024 as a means to unify the party.
DeSantis is largely viewed in conservative circles as being just as tough as Trump, just as outspoken, but in a more palatable way.
What better way to advance the agenda than to have someone on your side who has a history of being effective?
A recent poll shows that, while Trump thinks his nomination would be a shoo-in, DeSantis is closing fast.
The new Yahoo News/YouGov poll shows DeSantis just 9 points behind in a hypothetical GOP matchup, a striking shift considering Trump had dominated similar polls for months prior.
NEW: @YahooNews/@YouGovAmerica
2024 #NatlPres GOP Primary H2H
Donald Trump 45%
Ron DeSantis 36%
Undecided 18%457 RV | 6/24-6/27https://t.co/1f6I1MOYqO
— PPUSA (@PollProjectUSA) June 30, 2022
DeSantis’ appeal comes from the fact that some who loathe former President Trump don’t view him nearly with the same level of vitriol … yet.
HBO host Bill Maher was asked in a recent exchange on his show: “Do you think that Ron DeSantis is going to be way better than Donald Trump?”
“Yes, yes I do,” he replied.
The reasoning behind it was to put down Trump, but Maher makes a point that the hatred toward DeSantis wouldn’t be nearly as bad. And he’s kind of insinuated as such previously as well.
“Anybody could beat Biden. Who could not beat Biden at this point? Trump might be the one guy who could lose to Biden.” DeSantis is “a winner, he runs the third largest state, Trump is a a hotel greeter who lost” – @BillMaher #RealTime pic.twitter.com/AJylaYwXRM
— NewsBusters (@newsbusters) June 25, 2022
Popular podcast host Joe Rogan has said DeSantis “would work as a good president.”
“I think, I mean, what he’s done for Florida has been admirable,” added Rogan.
Podcast host @JoeRogan said he would support @GovRonDeSantis for the 2024 presidential election, saying that “what he’s done is stand up for freedoms.”https://t.co/kEt5wmENoe
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 30, 2022
And Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he’s also leaning toward DeSantis in 2024 after having voted Democrat his entire life.
DeSantis
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2022
Not that celebrities and typically Democrat-voting individuals are the measuring stick, but it does indicate that DeSantis’s style might resonate with independents.
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