Trump says his relationship with one-time rival DeSantis now a '9.9'
"The relationship between the governor and the president is fantastic," DeSantis communications director Bryan Griffin told Fox News Digital.
Griffin spoke with Fox News Digital the day after Trump and DeSantis, along with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, toured what's being called "Alligator Alacatraz," a detention center quickly constructed on a remote airstrip that's surrounded by alligator-infested swamps.
DeSantis, the two-term conservative governor who unsuccessfully ran against Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, used emergency powers to seize the land and speed construction of the facility, with encouragement from Trump and his administration.
"Ron worked beautifully with Kristi (Noem) and all of the people at Homeland Security and got it done in how many days, Ron?" Trump said as he turned to the governor while answering reporters' questions.
"Eight days, a new facility was up and running," DeSantis responded.
Following his 2022 gubernatorial re-election landslide, DeSantis moved toward running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination and formally launched his White House bid in the spring of 2023.
But even before he announced his candidacy, DeSantis was repeatedly attacked by Trump and his political allies.
The long-term targeting of the governor proved successful. DeSantis was considered Trump's top threat among the field of Republican White House hopefuls. But the governor saw his support deteriorate, and he ended his presidential bid in January of last year, after a disappointing second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, far behind Trump.
DeSantis immediately endorsed Trump, helped raise money for the then-former president's general election campaign, and gave a well-received speech last summer at the Republican National Convention in Milwuakee, Wisconsin.
Asked about his relationship with DeSantis, Trump told reporters, "I would say it's a 10. I think it's a 10," before adding "maybe 9.9 because, you know, might be a couple of little wounds."
DeSantis has been extremely aggressive in assisting Trump in his sweeping immigration crackdown.
The governor signed stiff immigration measures into law earlier this year, after a compromise with the Republican leaders of the Florida legislature was brokered, which brought to an end a weekslong standoff over dueling bills.
"This is going to be a force multiplier," DeSantis told Fox News late last week. "We're happy to work with the federal government to satisfy President Trump's mandate."
And the governor, during his Fox News interview, suggested that the president visit the facility.
"An invitation from me: We can land Air Force One right there no problem," DeSantis said. "I think the president would be impressed with what the guys are doing out here."
Trump, at the event, highlighted that "Ron and I have had a really great relationship for a long period of time. We had a little off period for a couple of days, but it didn't last long."
The president added that he and the governor have a "lot of respect for each other."
DeSantis returned the praise, noting that "you can call him [Trump] anytime and he wants to be helpful for governors."
But some top figures in Trump's political orbit, including White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, may still hold unflattering opinions of the governor.
Wiles was once a top DeSantis political advisor before a very bitter falling out.
And in a sign of political friction, Trump-ally Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida also attended Tuesday's event.
Donalds earlier this year launched a bid to succeed the term-limited DeSantis in Florida's 2026 gubernatorial election, and he landed Trump's endorsement even before he announced his candidacy.
DeSantis' wife, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, has been mulling a run for governor of her own, and her husband earlier this year said she would be a worthy successor.
Asked by reporters if Casey DeSantis should run for governor, the president would only say "we get along great."
Ron DeSantis quickly interjected, noting that "I endorsed him immediately, in January 2024. I raised one of his PACs millions and millions of dollars."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Full 'Idiocracy': Trump's Bonkers Plan For White House Event Gets Panned By Critics
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a very unusual plan for the nation's 250th anniversary next year: a mixed-martial arts fight on the grounds of the White House with up to 25,000 spectators in attendance. 'We're gonna have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House,' he said. 'We have a lot of land there, we're gonna build a little ― we're not, Dana's gonna do it, Dana's great, one of a kind.' He was referring to Dana White, CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship, aka UFC. The two have been close for years, with White endorsing Trump and speaking on his behalf at the Republican National Convention in 2016, 2020 and 2024. Last year, Trump suggested that White 'set up a migrant league of fighters,' with the migrant champion battling the UFC champion. White later said that was a joke. 'But yeah, he did say it,' he confirmed at a UFC event. Trump did not unveil details of the event, so it's not clear what kind of event space or structure would be built for an audience of up to 25,000, but that number is higher than the capacity of any NBA arena. Madison Square Garden in New York, for example, can hold roughly 20,000 spectators. While it would likely be the first commercial fight at the White House, it wouldn't be the first fight of any kind: President Theodore Roosevelt boxed for fitness, and had a ring set up in the White House for sparring sessions with military aides. Roosevelt was once hit so hard that one eye was permanently damaged. Trump's critics said hosting a major UFC event in front of a massive audience would be beneath the dignity of the White House ― and more than a few said it was something straight from the 2006 dystopian comedy 'Idiocracy.' They wrote on X:
Washington Post
18 minutes ago
- Washington Post
American bombs in Iran also reverberate in China and North Korea
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — President Donald Trump campaigned on keeping the United States out of foreign wars, but it didn't take long to convince him to come to the direct aid of Israel, hitting Iranian nuclear targets with bunker-buster bombs dropped by B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from a submarine.
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
China Adviser Says Time ‘Running Out' to Set Up Xi-Trump Meeting
(Bloomberg) -- The US and China need to pick up the pace of preparations if a leaders' summit is to take place in the fall, according to an adviser to the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, drawing attention to the tight timeline facing the two countries in pursuing better ties. Foreign Buyers Swoop on Cape Town Homes, Pricing Out Locals NYC Commutes Resume After Midtown Bus Terminal Crash Chaos Massachusetts to Follow NYC in Making Landlords Pay Broker Fees Struggling Downtowns Are Looking to Lure New Crowds What Gothenburg Got Out of Congestion Pricing 'If we are going to make this happen, we need to make preparations as soon as possible, and time is running out,' Wu Xinbo, director at Fudan University's Center for American Studies in Shanghai, said on Friday. Wu's message of urgency follows growing confidence that ties between the world's two biggest economies are on the mend after months of hostility and tit-for-tat tariffs. President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping last spoke in early June. 'In the last one week, I have seen tangible progress by both sides, Beijing and Washington, in delivering what they promised to deliver,' Wu said, referring to a trade truce recently struck by the two countries. 'So that is quite a positive sign that finally we get the ball rolling,' added Wu, who last year led a group of experts in the ministry to meet politicians and business executives in the US. Beijing and Washington reached a trade framework last month following talks in London, which remains in effect through mid-August. China agreed to resume shipments of rare earths — key inputs for wind turbines, electric vehicles and military hardware. The US offered to ease some export restrictions on ethane, chip-design software and jet engine components. Signs emerged in recent weeks that both sides are beginning to deliver on their promises. Chinese rare earth magnets are flowing, although not quite to the levels seen before Beijing implemented export curbs in early April, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this week. Washington has lifted recent export license requirements for chip design software sales in China, and approved American ethane exports to the Asian nation without additional approvals. Trump's administration is meanwhile reaching out to business executives to weigh interest in accompanying him on a possible trip to China this year, according to people familiar with the matter. When asked for comment, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that a visit to China hasn't been scheduled at this point. Wu's comments, made on a panel during the World Peace Forum in Beijing, came a day after a senior Chinese official, Liu Jianchao, expressed optimism over the future of China's ties with the US. While calling a war between the two countries 'unimaginable,' Liu highlighted Taiwan and the South China Sea as possible flashpoints. Given Trump's expressed desire to meet with Xi in China this year, the two sides need to move more quickly to make that happen, according to Wu. Wu said a trip to South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in October could also provide an opportunity for the Republican to visit China. A next step will involve broadening discussion channels between Beijing and Washington beyond trade-focused officials to include other parts of government, including the diplomatic corps and law enforcement agencies. 'You cannot just let the two economic teams arrange for the state visit — for the summit,' Wu said. Now is the time for Wang Yi to meet with his counterpart,' he added, referring to China's foreign minister. The Shanghai-based expert on US-China relations said Trump should do two things during his visit to Beijing: clearly state that China is America's most important commercial partner; and re-affirm that the US doesn't support Taiwan's independence and favors 'China's peaceful reunification.' 'Trump, he's a smarty guy,' said Wu. 'He knows how to make a big deal for the sake of US national interests. He will say the right thing when he's in Beijing.' SNAP Cuts in Big Tax Bill Will Hit a Lot of Trump Voters Too America's Top Consumer-Sentiment Economist Is Worried How to Steal a House China's Homegrown Jewelry Superstar For Brazil's Criminals, Coffee Beans Are the Target ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
