Ron DeSantis Eyes 2028 as He Continues to Bicker With Trump

Only about a month after ending his failed White House bid, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is already making moves toward his next one.

DeSantis has made a concerted effort to keep in touch with the people who supported his presidential campaign, including donors and leaders in the early nominating states. Those close to him say he is actively considering how best to maintain his national profile and influence, including potential endorsements in congressional races. He is likely to start raising money for his political operation once again in the near future as well, eyeing 2028, as one source with knowledge of the planning said.

DeSantis’s plans seem to be most apparent in his continued jabs at President Trump, even though he is no longer running against him.

During a lengthy call last week with more than 200 pledged delegates to his former presidential campaign, DeSantis shot down any speculation that he’d be Donald Trump’s vice president, warned the former president against using “identity politics” in choosing a running mate, and blamed Trump’s campaign team for relentlessly attacking him before the governor dropped out of the presidential race in January.

DeSantis held the call the same week he traveled to Indiana and South Carolina, where he pushed for states to back a constitutional amendment setting congressional term limits — a position he constantly mentioned on the campaign trail.

The moves by the governor, including a press conference to trumpet his legislative battles with Disney and a sendoff of Florida National Guard to the Texas border, has once again raised questions about his motives, especially considering that he endorsed Trump for president and criticizes Trump’s rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

“I think he is just very frustrated that no one else is saying these very obvious things, and so feels the need to say them himself. Like the boy in ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes,'” said Jason Osborne, the New Hampshire House majority leader who backed DeSantis’ presidential bid.

That view was echoed by Rob Stutzman, a Republican adviser for Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign.

“I question how strategic he’s being,” Stutzman said. “I’d lean towards catharsis. Cheaper than therapy.”

After DeSantis’ comments to pledged delegates surfaced, key Trump supporters took direct aim at the governor. Chris LaCivita, a top Trump strategist, called him a “sad little man” on social media. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “Ron tucked his tail between his legs, and he should have scurried off into the shadows of obscurity.”

That all having been said, it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if DeSantis mounted another presidential run in 2028. The governor has hinted that he’s open to another bid since dropping out, and during a press conference in Florida last week, he told an audience that “of course” he would do it all over again.

Of course, even should Trump win back the White House in November, as a then two-term president, he could not run again, leaving the field wide open for someone like DeSantis, who might fare better without a powerful adversary like Trump.