Scoop: DeSantis "begging" Trump for prime role in administration
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a conference in Miami earlier this month. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
President Trump has told confidants that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is "begging" for a job in Trump's administration — including attorney general — Axios has learned.
- DeSantis also has expressed interest in being secretary of defense and even a spot on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to six sources briefed on the discussions.
Why it matters: DeSantis has to leave office at the end of his second term in January and is "looking for what to do next," according to one source who said Trump is inclined to consider helping out his understudy-turned-rival-turned-friend.
Inside the room: DeSantis' future was on the menu after the two men had lunch at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami a week ago Sunday.
- "Ron was begging me to be AG," Trump told one confidant, who relayed the remark to Axios.
- Said another source: "There was a conversation at that lunch. I don't think AG is real. But he's gonna be looking for work and Trump likes him."
Zoom in: DeSantis' conversations with Trump got serious in recent weeks after the president dismissed Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary and Pam Bondi as attorney general.
- Todd Blanche — who's been Trump's personal lawyer and was the Justice Department's No. 2 under Bondi — is now acting attorney general.
- Trump wants Blanche to indict several of the president's political foes as part of the "Grand Conspiracy" case that's being handled out of the department's Southern District of Florida, another adviser said.
- "Todd has about 90 days to show what he can do," that adviser said.
What they're saying: The White House declined comment. DeSantis spokesperson Alex Lanfranconi said in a statement that the governor "enjoys a great relationship with President Trump."
- "Some in the media prefer to focus on fake rumors rather than the many accomplishments of Florida's partnership with the Trump administration," he added.
- "The governor looks forward to continuing to work with President Trump on enforcing immigration laws, restoring the Everglades, and helping to reform college athletics."
Zoom out: DeSantis first began talking with Trump about an appointment last year, after Trump was reelected, the sources told Axios.
- At the time, Trump was thinking about picking DeSantis to lead the Defense Department, but the president stuck with Pete Hegseth, then a Fox News commentator.
- Even so, sources said, Trump would strongly consider DeSantis for the post if Hegseth left — though Hegseth remains in good standing with the president.
- "DeSantis is 100% not interested in the AG job, but he would be interested in two things: War secretary or Supreme Court, which would be his dream job," said another source familiar with the discussions.
- DeSantis and conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, that source said, "almost have a father-son relationship and would be a hell of a legacy for Trump."
The intrigue: DeSantis waged a bitter — but brief — primary bid in the 2024 presidential cycle against Trump, whose campaign and White House are stocked with critics of the governor.
- "Bygones are bygones," said one Trump adviser. "But that doesn't mean people forget."
- Said another: "There's a big reason the president wouldn't pick Ron to be his attorney general: There's a way-too-high chance he would try to f*ck the president over."
- "Trump needs someone at Justice he absolutely trusts. But the Defense Department or Supreme Court or something else? Sure."
This story has been updated with comments from DeSantis' spokesperson.
