Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump have had their run-ins. Many have said their bridge has been burned down.
That’s why Trump was taken aback by what Ron DeSantis just declared on Fox News.
Florida Governor and Republican superstar Ron DeSantis was shaping up to be a strong candidate for President in the 2024 election until his base, which is still very fond of President Donald Trump, switched over to support the Trump campaign during the 2024 primary cycle. Trump also alleged that DeSantis was “disloyal” by running for office, though DeSantis says he had no intentions of being disloyal to anyone and, on the contrary, still had great respect for Trump.
After the way that primary season went down, there were concerns in the Republican Party that a major character in the Party’s future, Ron DeSantis, would be stuck in a war against Donald Trump. The last thing the Party wants is to unnecessarily mar their future powerful candidates after Donald Trump has left the scene after his second term in office. Rumors flew around that the relationship between DeSantis and Trump was too damaged to be fixed.
That’s not been the case at all. Ron DeSantis has not taken any of the 2024 primary drama to heart and actually still wants to help Donald Trump in any way he can, saying that it’s on Republican officials to make sure that Trump is able to fulfill his campaign promises. Not only that, but DeSantis is warning anyone trying to get in their way that there’s going to be serious consequences for doing so.
DeSantis Pushes Florida Lawmakers for Swift Immigration Action as Special Session Looms
With the Florida legislative session set to begin on January 27, Governor Ron DeSantis is applying increasing pressure on state lawmakers to act decisively on illegal immigration. The governor is calling for the passage of a series of new bills that would align Florida’s immigration policies with those of the Trump administration, which has taken a hardline approach to border security and illegal immigration. In a speech on Thursday, DeSantis urged Republican lawmakers to take swift and decisive action, warning that any delay in addressing this issue could have serious political ramifications.
DeSantis, who has made immigration reform a key priority of his administration, is seeking legislation that would strengthen the state’s efforts to curb illegal immigration and compel state and local officials to comply with federal immigration enforcement policies. His proposed measures include penalties for local officials who violate Florida’s “anti-sanctuary” policies, which aim to prevent municipalities from offering sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. The governor has also called for the allocation of funding to support the enforcement of these new immigration laws.
The upcoming special session represents a pivotal moment for DeSantis and his agenda. Despite his strong stance, not all members of the Florida legislature are on board with his proposed timeline. Key Republican leaders, including House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, have expressed skepticism about the timing of the session. In a joint statement issued on January 13, the legislative leaders described the session as “premature,” arguing that DeSantis had not provided clear bill language or detailed proposals for consideration. They emphasized that the decision on what bills to pass and when to pass them should rest with the legislature, not the governor, and suggested that lawmakers should wait for additional guidance from the Trump administration before taking action.
🚨 OMG. This reporter just called illegals "undocumented," DeSantis corrected him, and the reporter re-phrased the question because of it.
REPORTER: Florida has hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants-
GOVERNOR DESANTIS: -The statutory term, per the Trump… pic.twitter.com/9nKkptj1kq
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 23, 2025
However, DeSantis is not backing down in the face of this resistance. During a roundtable discussion at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the governor made it clear that he expects lawmakers to take immediate action. “It would be very, very hazardous politically,” he warned, underscoring the importance of keeping the promises made to voters. DeSantis also reiterated that if the legislature fails to act, he would not hesitate to call for another special session.
“I have my constitutional authority to wield in this process,” he declared, signaling that he is prepared to use all available means to push his immigration agenda forward. “I will fight like a junkyard dog,” he added, emphasizing his determination to get the job done.
While immigration is the primary focus of the special session, DeSantis has also instructed lawmakers to address a variety of other pressing issues. These include providing additional hurricane aid to affected communities, cracking down on ballot initiative signature fraud, and addressing rising homeowners association (HOA) fees. However, the governor’s top priority remains tackling illegal immigration, an issue that he has consistently raised throughout his tenure.
The Trump administration’s actions in recent weeks have provided a significant backdrop for DeSantis’s push. The president has signed several executive orders aimed at resuming mass deportations, resuming construction of the border wall, and re-instituting the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico while their cases are processed. These efforts, combined with a series of actions by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expand ICE enforcement, have led to a 35% reduction in illegal immigrant encounters at the southern border, according to DHS sources. With these moves from the federal government, DeSantis argues that the time has come for Florida to take its own decisive action.
Despite the pushback from some Republican lawmakers, DeSantis remains steadfast in his belief that now is the time for action. Addressing concerns over the premature nature of the special session, he firmly stated, “We’ve been waiting years for this moment. It’s not premature.” DeSantis emphasized that Florida cannot afford to wait for action at the federal level to take effect months down the line. “We can’t drag our feet. We can’t wait for something to go into effect in July. We need something immediately,” he insisted. For the governor, this is about fulfilling a promise made to Florida voters who expect action on one of the most urgent issues facing the state.
As the special session approaches, all eyes will be on whether Florida lawmakers will heed DeSantis’s call for swift and decisive action or whether they will continue to delay addressing immigration reform. Many believe that the outcome of this session will have long-term implications for the state’s political future. If DeSantis gets the support he seeks, it would further cement his reputation as a champion of conservative values in Florida for generations.
The coming weeks will be crucial as DeSantis tries to rally the legislature to act in a way that aligns with his vision for Florida’s future. His political capital, as well as his relationship with both state lawmakers and federal officials, will be tested in what promises to be a highly charged legislative battle over one of the most contentious issues in American politics today.
BREAKING 🚨 Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis announced a new law allowing LOCAL Police to Deport illegal immigrants
Ron DeSantis expects Donald Trump to sign off on this rather quickly
HUGE WIN FOR AMERICA pic.twitter.com/8OWobdMDhq
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 15, 2025
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
