Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is facing tough decisions in replacing Republicans tapped by President-elect Donald Trump for his incoming administration.
DeSantis is gearing up for special elections and naming replacements for key political seats from the Sunshine State such as Senator Marco Rubio who was tapped by Trump to serve as secretary of state. While many have been advocating for Republican National Committee Co-Chair Lara Trump, wife of the president-elect’s son Eric, for the spot, the governor’s latest remarks sparked debate on social media about her chances.
“We have already received strong interest from several possible candidates, and we continue to gather names of additional candidates and conduct preliminary vetting,” the former GOP presidential candidate said in a social media post on Monday.
Senator Marco Rubio is expected to resign from the Senate to assume duties as Secretary of State when the Trump administration takes power on January 20th, creating a vacancy roughly two months from today.
We have already received strong interest from several possible…
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) November 18, 2024
“More extensive vetting and candidate interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, with a selection likely made by the beginning of January,” he added.
“Florida deserves a Senator who will help President Trump deliver on his election mandate, be strong on immigration and border security, take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state, reverse the nation’s fiscal decline, be animated by conservative principles, and has a proven record of results,” DeSantis concluded.
In an interview with Fox Business’s Maria Bartiromo last week, Trump’s daughter-in-law who earned high praise for her efforts leading up to the election victory, said, “If this is something I am asked to do, I would seriously consider it, but I have yet to hear from Gov. DeSantis. So we’ll see what happens.”
On Saturday’s edition of “Fox & Friends,” Trump again expressed an interest.
“If I am tapped to serve in another capacity, it truly would be my honor. I think it would be great to have another young mom alongside Katie Britt there in the United States Senate. I have not been asked yet, but I certainly would strongly consider it if it is presented to me,” she said.
The incoming 47th president has also named Florida’s Rep. Mike Waltz (R) for national security adviser and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R), also from Florida, for attorney general.
DeSantis has not indicated who is in the running in his mind but names that have been floated include “Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, U.S. Rep. Laurel Lee and James Uthmeier, DeSantis’ chief of staff,” according to NBC Miami, adding Lara Trump as a mentioned name as well.
DeSantis’s post sparked debate on social media about the president-elect’s daughter-in-law.
Lara Trump will and should be the next Senator of Florida
— J (@JayTC53) November 18, 2024
Please just pick someone who is going to work with Trump not against him. Thank you
— Patty (@pattyisright) November 18, 2024
TRANSLATION: DeSantis will appoint someone not named Lara Trump.
Everything about his post indicates he is considering a range of highly-qualified candidates.
This is the HR email telling Lara Trump that she will be considered amongst a multitude of other candidates.
— Cryptid Politics (pro-DeSantis) (@CryptidPolitics) November 18, 2024
Proven record of results. Well, that eliminated Lara Trump
— brett burney (@brettburney2) November 18, 2024
Lara Trump. Stop with the cleverly worded statement to gauge her support! MAGA says @LaraLeaTrump for Senator!
— Trumpzilla (@OceaniaCitizen_) November 18, 2024
I know a lot of people are saying Lara Trump, but she is not qualified. What elected office has she held so that we can inspect her voting record?
It’s wrong for people to say MAGA wants her. I am a MAGA as anyone and I began asking for Byron Donalds as soon as Rubio was…
— Brother Eric (@01IOTA) November 18, 2024
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