Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has reportedly asked former President Trump to either cancel or postpone his upcoming rally scheduled for Saturday in Sarasota, FL as the Sunshine State continues to grabble with the recent tragic building collapse in Surfside. While the location of the search and rescue site and the rally are about 3 1/2 hours away from each other DeSantis is still urging Trump not to have the event this weekend out of respect.
So far, 16 people have been confirmed dead while more than 150 others are still unaccounted for.
According to The Washington Examiner:
“The governor is getting tested here as to how far he’s going to be pushed before he breaks ranks with President Trump. And he has to be very careful because this is Trump country,” this source said. “The base loves the president. But they equally love Ron. It’s a showdown going on right now.”
However, sources close to the Trump team say that he is holding firm on the campaign-style rally.
“Like all Americans, President Trump sends his deepest condolences to those who’ve lost loved ones or been displaced by the terrible tragedy in Surfside. The event in Sarasota, however, is on the other side of the state, 3 1/2 hours away, approximately the same distance from Boston to New York, and will not impact any of the recovery efforts,” Harrington said. “In fact, President Trump has instructed his team to collect relief aid for Surfside families both online and on-site at the Sarasota rally.”
DeSantis aides have called Trump’s choice to hold the rally in a state going through such a devastating event “tone-deaf” and said it would likely be in the Governor’s best interest not to travel to Sarasota but to stay in Surfside along with the grieving Floridians.
“I would say, ‘Look, it’s up to you.’ You’ve been right every single time [but] you haven’t won reelection in 2022 yet,” this person said. “You’ve got to stay on reelection 2022 and reelection 2022 says stick with Surfside and continue to manage the Sunshine State you have.”
The rift between the two Republican powerhouses comes as both eye the possibility of a presidential run in 2024. While the two have referred to each other as friends Trump is cognizant of DeSantis’ ever-growing popularity with the base, highlighted by DeSantis’ recent win in a straw poll.
Trump has even said DeSantis would likely be considered as a possible running mate should she choose to run in 2024.
“He’s a friend of mine. I endorsed Ron, and after I endorsed him, he took off like a rocket ship,” Trump said. “A lot of people like that — you know, I’m just saying what I read and what you read — they love that ticket … certainly, Ron would be considered. He’s a great guy.”
