His one mistake was challenging Donald Trump in 2024. More specifically, it was challenging Trump — and failing.
Like Omar Little said on The Wire, “You come at the king, you best not miss.” Gov. Ron DeSantis came at the king… and missed very, very badly.
Were it not for his ill-advised 2024 campaign, DeSantis would be on the GOP’s 2028 shortlist for president, along with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. In an alternate reality, Vance, Rubio, and DeSantis would be our Big Three.
I’ll go one step further: Had he not challenged Trump in 2024, DeSantis probably wouldn’t even be the governor right now.
Although we still think of Trump as the quintessential New Yawker, he’s been a Floridian for quite a while. As are a slew of his top cabinet members and closest advisors: Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. Rubio. Mike Waltz. Key supporting staff. Even scandal-tarred Florida congressman Matt Gaetz was (briefly) floated for attorney general — before being replaced by fellow Floridian, the since-fired Pam Bondi.
But does DeSantis want to work in D.C.? After all, he’s still the governor of Florida, America’s third-most populous state. That’s a plumb position for a young, ambitious politician. (Plus, the weather in Tallahassee is way better.)
Axios says yes (April 21): Scoop: DeSantis ‘Begging’ Trump for Prime Role in Administration
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."
Among those three positions — attorney general, secretary of war, and Supreme Court justice — Axios suggests that the last two are a distinct possibility:
- …Trump would strongly consider DeSantis for the [Secretary of War] 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*** the president over." [emphasis added]
Reading between the lines, it sounds as if DeSantis has (mostly) rebuilt his tattered relationship with President Trump, but obviously, a degree of mistrust remains. From Trump’s point of view, they’re still in the “trust-but-verify” phase.
Can’t really blame Trump for being cautious. When DeSantis’ decided to challenge Trump in 2024, it revealed something significant about his character — namely, his loyalty.
Or lack thereof.
And it probably revealed something about his judgment, too. DeSantis’ only real path to the 2024 GOP nomination depended on Democratic legal shenanigans short-circuiting Trump’s candidacy: If Trump was in hot water and couldn’t run, perhaps DeSantis could sell himself to the MAGAverse as Trump-lite — all the good stuff and none of the baggage.
It was a stupid decision, but I understand the governor’s thought process: Between Trump’s age and legal troubles, positioning DeSantis as the Next Man Up made tactical sense. Hey, weird stuff happens all the time; might as well be prepared.
But it was a very poor reading of the political tea leaves. DeSantis underestimated Trump’s resiliency and overestimated his own national appeal. Almost immediately, his deficiencies on the campaign trail were exposed.
Instead of coming across as bold, self-confident, and Trumpian, he often seemed shrill, awkward, and kind of weird. Who could forget “Pudding Fingers Ron?”
Not only did DeSantis fail to topple Trump, but he often struggled to separate himself from the likes of second-tier candidates, including Nikki Haley. (Trump won the GOP nomination with 17,015,756 votes to Haley’s 4,381,799 and DeSantis’ 353,615.)
Suddenly, the most accomplished Republican governor in the country — who won reelection just two years earlier by nearly 20 points — was on the outside looking in. And because Florida governors can only serve two consecutive terms, DeSantis’ future was suddenly in doubt. He was staring down the barrel of political obscurity.
Then came the nationwide gerrymandering push.
Although Virginia’s redistricting election is now in legal limbo, a coast-to-coast arm’s race is still underway — and Virginia’s fate unresolved. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is itching to build his ’28 bona fides by tilting the scales, too.
There’s a very real possibility that the gerrymandering push will benefit the Democrats more than the Republicans.
Between California, Virginia, and Utah(!), the Dems now stand to gain 10 seats. Between Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio, the GOP will gain only 9. Which means, Republicans will be down a seat.
Unless Florida’s governor gets involved.
This is the moment DeSantis has patiently waited for. It’s his chance in the spotlight — his opportunity to save the day for the MAGAverse.
Right now, Florida has 28 congressional seats. The GOP currently controls 20.
Under the Virginia’s precedent of gerrymandering seats 10-1 in the Democrat’s favor, why shouldn’t Florida match their numbers and gerrymander it, say, 25-3 for the Republicans? (That’s actually a more forgiving ratio than Virginia’s Dems gave us.)
And we’d instantly go from -1 seat to +4.
This week, we were reminded why we fell in love with DeSantis: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries threatened the governor not to pull a Virginia and redistrict Florida.
DeSantis’ response was pure gold:
🇺🇸 Ron DeSantis just BODIED Hakeem Jeffries:
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) April 22, 2026
“Oh, we’re gonna go after Florida? PLEASE. Be my guest! I’ll pay you to campaign here, put you up in the governor’s mansion, take you fishing 😂
Nothing would be better for Florida Republicans than seeing you everywhere!”
Then he… pic.twitter.com/tRLAoK1kqb
Welcome to the political resurrection of DeSantis. He’s at his best when he’s sparring with reporters, using them as his foils, and dissecting their idiocy. Few politicians do it better.
It’s one of his most Trumpian qualities.
And if he successfully redistricts Florida, a grateful MAGAverse will erupt in thunderous applause. He’ll become the white knight who rode into town, slayed the dragon, rescued the princess, and saved our bacon.
Sparring with reporters during the redistricting fight will generate oodles of viral soundbites. Delivering another five seats will dissipate any bad blood that remains.
It’s his big opportunity to not just make amends with MAGA’s base — and MAGA’s boss — but to relaunch his own career.
In 2028, the Republican Party will be looking for Trump’s successor. Someone who’ll build on Trump’s legacy. Someone with the qualities and attributes to raise the America First movement to even greater heights.
Vance and Rubio are still in the driver’s seat, but DeSantis is about to make a compelling argument for his own candidacy. After all, he’ll have gone from the pinnacle of stardom to the political wilderness — and through stubbornness, tenacity, and talent, he found his way back to the mountaintop, winning an incredible Republican victory.
And what could be more Trumpian than that?
One Last Thing: 2026 is a critical year for America First. It began with Mayor Mamdani declaring war on “rugged individualism” and will reach a crescendo with the midterm elections. Nothing less than the fate of the America First movement teeters in the balance.
Never before have the political battle lines been so clearly defined. Win or lose, 2026 will transform our country.
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