Donald Trump isn’t known for sugarcoating his opinions, especially when it comes to political rivals.
It’s also not every day you see a political cold war start to thaw right before your eyes, but that’s exactly what appears to be happening. In a moment that no one could have predicted a year ago, a major shift is underway inside the GOP. And if you’ve been watching the tensions, the jabs, and the headlines over the past two years, you’ll understand just how unexpected — and important — this development really is.
Ever since Ron DeSantis ran for president in the 2024 GOP primary, President Trump has taken it as a slight, and their once solid relationship soured virtually overnight, with Trump taking his candidacy as a sign of disloyalty. But now it looks like they’re back on good terms.
While touring the new “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades, reporters asked Trump about his relationship with DeSantis, and his response was a surprise.
“Our relationship is now a 10 out of 10. Maybe a 9.9,” he said. For anyone who’s followed Trump’s career, this isn’t just a throwaway line. It’s a signal — one that says Trump can move past petty grievances.
“As you know, Ron and I have had a really great relationship,” Trump said during a roundtable at the facility. “We had a little off period for a couple of days,” he added with a chuckle, downplaying the months of bruising attacks between the two, during which DeSantis tried (and failed) to make the case for moving on from Trump.
Recommended: Women’s Sports Just Scored a Massive Win Against the Trans Agenda
Trump and DeSantis quietly reconnected in spring 2024 after DeSantis’s decisive defeat in the primaries. They’ve shared a few rounds of golf and crossed paths at official events since, but Tuesday’s visit marked their most extended public interaction to date, suggesting that the frost between them may finally be thawing.
DeSantis, for his part, has played his cards carefully. After bowing out of the primary and throwing his support behind Trump, he’s kept a relatively low profile, focusing on governing Florida and letting Trump take center stage. This isn’t weakness; it’s strategic discipline. DeSantis knows that the path to future influence in the GOP runs through loyalty to its leader, and Trump knows the value of bringing talented allies back into the fold.
As someone who’s voted for Trump three times but initially backed DeSantis in the 2024 primary, this renewed alliance is a welcome shift. I was openly critical of Trump’s attacks on DeSantis because, frankly, they did real damage to the GOP. Trump managed to turn many of his most loyal followers against one of the most effective conservative governors in the country — and, in my view, the future of the Republican Party. Hopefully, they’ll follow Trump’s lead and realize that DeSantis is the future of the GOP.
I knew that Ron DeSantis was presidential material the moment I saw him speak at CPAC in 2022. He brought the house down with a standing ovation from a room full of Trump supporters, many of whom were quick to turn on him when Trump did. We should be united against the Democrats, not within our party.
I also hope this means that there’s hope for reconciliation between Trump and Elon Musk. The two may have clashed over the One Big, Beautiful Bill, but they share common ground on critical issues — free speech, border security, energy policy, and cutting waste and fraud. Musk has shown he’s not afraid to challenge the establishment, and Trump respects strength. If they can put egos aside, a renewed Trump-Musk alliance would be a nightmare scenario for Democrats and a major win for the country.
