Trump Comments On Possible Role for DeSantis
President Donald Trump is making it increasingly clear that old political grudges are a thing of the past when it comes to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. In a new interview, Trump not only praised his former Republican primary rival but also declined to rule out the possibility of bringing him into the administration in a future cabinet role.
The comments came during an appearance on Miranda Devine’s “Pod Force One” podcast, where Trump was asked about speculation that DeSantis could emerge as a candidate for attorney general following the departure of Pam Bondi. Rather than dismissing the idea, Trump spoke highly of the Florida governor and suggested he remains a respected figure within Republican circles.
“Ron’s very good,” Trump said. “People thought of different names. There are some good names.”
The president also noted that DeSantis has never personally expressed interest in the position, signaling that any discussion remains purely speculative at this stage.
The exchange highlights just how dramatically the relationsahip between the two Republicans has changed since the bruising 2024 presidential primary. During that contest, Trump repeatedly targeted DeSantis with sharp attacks, most famously branding him “Ron DeSanctimonious” as the two battled for control of the Republican Party.
Those clashes now appear firmly in the rearview mirror.
Since Trump returned to the White House, DeSantis has worked closely with the administration on several major policy initiatives. The governor has aligned himself with Trump on efforts to combat illegal immigration and has supported Republican redistricting strategies, helping strengthen ties between Tallahassee and Washington.
Trump’s latest remarks reflected that improved relationship.
“He’s a governor and doing a very good job,” Trump told Devine.
The president also pointed to a recent honor bestowed on him by the Florida governor. Earlier this year, DeSantis signed legislation renaming Palm Beach International Airport after Trump, transforming the facility frequently used during the president’s visits to Mar-a-Lago into Donald J. Trump International Airport.
“Ron’s good. He’s a friend of mine. He just named an airport after me,” Trump said. “They named the Palm Beach International Airport the Donald J. Trump International Airport.”
Trump described the gesture as a significant honor and appeared genuinely pleased by the recognition. The airport renaming followed another major Florida project linked to the president: the development of Trump’s presidential library in Miami, a project that also received support from DeSantis.
While the discussion briefly touched on possible future cabinet appointments, Trump appeared content with the current leadership at the Department of Justice. He praised acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as one of his personal attorneys, for his performance in the role.
“I wanted to see how he’s received … and he’s done a very good job,” Trump said.
For now, Trump insists no decision has been made regarding any permanent replacement, emphasizing that the Republican Party is filled with qualified candidates.
“There are a lot of great people,” Trump said. “The Republican Party — we have great people.”