DeSantis Struggles to Win Back Trump Supporters
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is mounting an effort to recapture support from Republican voters who backed Trump in the previous election, focusing heavily on immigration policy as he positions himself for a potential 2028 presidential run.
However, DeSantis faces resistance from his own state’s Republican establishment, which maintains strong ties to Trump. The governor recently called for a special legislative session to enact strict immigration measures, including potential criminal charges for officers who fail to enforce immigration laws and restrictions on international money transfers.
The response from state legislators was swift and decisive. They promptly dismissed DeSantis’ proposals and initiated their own session, introducing legislation that would transfer significant immigration enforcement authority from the governor to the state’s agriculture commissioner. In a pointed move, they named it the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy, or TRUMP, Act.
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This legislative pushback highlights the term-limited governor’s diminishing influence following his unsuccessful presidential campaign. Despite transforming Florida into a Republican stronghold and securing a remarkable 19-point reelection victory, DeSantis has struggled to maintain his former political momentum since challenging Trump.
“This is a relationship business,” Republican political consultant Jamie Miller said. “And he is not good at the relationship side.”
DeSantis’ office declined to comment when contacted.
The governor’s presidential campaign in Iowa last year, where he portrayed himself as a more effective version of Trump, failed to gain significant traction. His defeat in the Iowa caucuses marked the end of his White House bid, leading to an eventual reconciliation with Trump. During a conference call with donors at a Fort Lauderdale hotel fundraiser, Trump declared, “Ron, I love that you’re back,” as the event raised $3 million for his campaign.
Former ally State Sen. Randy Fine, who later endorsed Trump, highlighted the stark contrast in how loyalty is rewarded. “I was loyal. I’m going to Congress. They were loyal. They get called RINOs who want amnesty,” Fine said. “There are female members of the Legislature who went to Iowa a year ago and walked through the snow to help him and got frostbite. And now a year later they’re RINOs who want amnesty? I think it’s hard to describe the sense of betrayal.”
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Both DeSantis and the legislature claim to best represent Trump’s immigration stance. DeSantis criticized the legislature’s bill as a “betrayal” of conservative values, arguing that the name is misleading. “President Trump has been very strong coming out of the gate on immigration enforcement. He wants to solve this problem once and for all. The bill they did is more window dressing,” DeSantis stated in a video on X.
However, legislators maintain they have Trump’s support. Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters, a bill sponsor and Trump ally, revealed that Trump adviser Stephen Miller provided “technical guidance” on the legislation “to make sure we’re doing everything that the president’s team wants.”
DeSantis has gained some backing, including from Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts, who praised the governor’s proposals on social media. “Now is not the time for watered-down proposals,” Roberts posted on X, commending DeSantis.
The White House has not publicly commented on the situation.
While DeSantis appears to be winning the messaging battle on social media and conservative media, Miller notes, “But we all know that that microphone can be taken away with one tweet.”
