Trump Goes Golfing With DeSantis
President-elect Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met for a round of golf on Tuesday, signaling the ongoing collaboration between the two prominent figures as DeSantis prepares to select a replacement for Senator Marco Rubio, who has been nominated by Trump for Secretary of State. According to sources familiar with the discussions, several potential candidates are being considered for the Senate seat, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez, and the governor’s chief of staff, James Uthmeier. Among these, Moody is widely seen as the frontrunner for the position.
DeSantis is expected to make his decision shortly after Trump’s inauguration, with Rubio’s confirmation hearings scheduled for the following day. This timing underscores the importance of the upcoming Senate seat vacancy, as Republicans look to maintain strong leadership in Washington.
The golf meeting came just days after DeSantis called for a special session of the Florida Legislature on January 27 to advance Trump’s bold immigration agenda. The governor has been a strong ally of Trump’s policies, particularly on border security and combating illegal immigration. DeSantis’s push to implement Trump’s immigration priorities at the state level has been met with resistance from some Republican leaders in Florida’s state Legislature. Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez criticized the special session as “premature,” expressing concerns about the timing of the request.
In response, DeSantis took to the social platform X, defending his decision and reiterating his commitment to advancing Trump’s immigration policies. “Officials in the sunshine state will actively help the Trump Administration’s efforts to fight illegal immigration,” DeSantis wrote. “In order to do that, we have to secure the needed funding and resources right now to promise the safety and security of Floridians.”
As both Trump and DeSantis continue to work together to shape the future of the Republican Party, this meeting and the ongoing discussions highlight their shared commitment to securing America’s borders and putting American interests first. With DeSantis’s leadership and Trump’s unwavering stance on immigration, Florida is poised to be at the forefront of implementing conservative policies that protect American values.