DeSantis courts conservative influencers as Trump feud grows stronger

Tensions are rising between Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump.

What's happening: DeSantis has been courting conservative influencers who recently moved to Florida and is pushing back against Trump's criticism to add more fuel to the 2024 fire, per Politico.

• DeSantis hosted nine social media stars in Tallahassee on Jan. 6 for stops at his office, dinner at the governor's mansion and drinks at a rooftop bar near the statehouse.

What they're saying: Conservative TV host and California transplant Dave Rubin and right-leaning journalist Jordan Schachtel both tweeted after they attended DeSantis' gathering:

The other side: Trump, who has asserted he would beat DeSantis in a GOP primary, has taken recent shots at the governor.

• Privately, he's been calling DeSantis an ingrate with a "dull personality," per Axios' Jonathan Swan.
• Last week, he publicly called politicians who won't say if they got the COVID booster shot "gutless." DeSantis hasn't confirmed if he is boosted.