President Trump declined to rule out Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for a future cabinet role, including attorney general, in a podcast interview released Wednesday, praising his former 2024 primary rival and calling him "a friend of mine" who has "done a very good job."
The comments, made during the latest episode of the New York Post's "Pod Force One" with host Miranda Devine, mark the latest signal that the once-bitter rivalry between the two Republicans has given way to something closer to a working alliance. Asked about speculation that DeSantis could be in the mix for the attorney general slot, Trump did not shut it down.
Instead, he offered warm, if characteristically noncommittal, praise for the term-limited governor and indicated that no permanent replacement for acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is imminent.
Trump told Devine that DeSantis has "never talked about" wanting the attorney general position. But the president's tone was unmistakably favorable. He rattled off a string of compliments that would have been unthinkable during the bruising 2024 primary, when Trump tagged the Florida governor with the nickname "Ron DeSanctimonious" on the campaign trail.
"Ron's good. He's a friend of mine. He just named an airport after me."
Trump was referring to the Palm Beach International Airport, which DeSantis signed legislation in March to rename the Donald J. Trump International Airport, the facility Trump frequently uses on visits to Mar-a-Lago. The president called the gesture "a great honor."
When pressed on whether DeSantis might fill the permanent attorney general role following Pam Bondi's firing, Trump kept his options open. He acknowledged that names have circulated but declined to commit to any of them.
"People thought of different names. There are some good names."
He added that he appeared satisfied with Blanche, his former personal attorney who now serves as acting attorney general at the helm of the Department of Justice. Trump indicated he does not currently have anyone in mind to replace Blanche, a signal that the DOJ leadership question may remain unresolved for some time.
The warmth toward DeSantis is a striking reversal. During the 2024 presidential primary, Trump directed sharp personal attacks at the Florida governor, who was widely seen as his most formidable Republican challenger before dropping out of the race. The two men clashed publicly, and Trump's rhetoric left little room for reconciliation at the time.
But since the primary ended, DeSantis has moved aggressively to align himself with Trump's agenda. He has worked closely on the president's priorities, including cracking down on illegal immigration and redistricting, two issues that matter deeply to the Republican base. As we previously reported, Trump has floated the idea of tapping DeSantis for a cabinet post once his gubernatorial term ends.
The airport renaming was only the most visible gesture. DeSantis also facilitated the construction of Trump's presidential library in Miami, a move that cemented the impression of a governor eager to stay in the president's good graces as his own political future takes shape.
Trump acknowledged the effort plainly during the interview.
"He's a governor and doing a very good job. I wanted to see how he's received... and he's done a very good job."
DeSantis remains a consequential figure in Republican politics beyond any cabinet speculation. His redistricting efforts in Florida have drawn both praise from the right and legal challenges from the left. The governor released a proposed congressional map aimed at securing additional GOP seats, a move that underscored his willingness to use executive power to advance Republican interests at the state level.
That map has since faced legal scrutiny. Florida's new congressional map went through its first court test over partisan gerrymandering claims, a battle that reflects the high stakes of redistricting fights playing out across red states.
Meanwhile, Trump's ability to pressure Republican lawmakers on redistricting has met resistance elsewhere. In South Carolina, GOP state senators blocked a redistricting push despite direct pressure from the White House, a reminder that even within the party, Trump's influence has limits when local politics intervene.
The DOJ vacancy, or near-vacancy, with Blanche holding the fort in an acting capacity, is one of the more consequential open questions in Washington. The attorney general wields enormous power over federal law enforcement priorities, and the position has been a flashpoint throughout Trump's second term.
Pam Bondi's departure left a gap that Trump has been in no rush to fill permanently. Blanche, who earned Trump's trust as his personal defense attorney, stepped into the acting role. Trump's comments suggest he is content with that arrangement for now, even as names like DeSantis float through the political conversation.
Trump framed the broader personnel picture in optimistic terms, pointing to the depth of talent in the party rather than any single candidate.
"There are a lot of great people. The Republican Party, we have great people."
That kind of language is classic Trump: complimentary without being committal, leaving every door ajar. It keeps DeSantis in the conversation without elevating him above other potential picks, and it keeps Blanche from feeling like a lame duck at Main Justice.
DeSantis is term-limited as governor, which means his political future requires a new vehicle. An attorney general appointment would give him a national platform and a direct role in the administration's most high-profile legal fights, from immigration enforcement to the ongoing battles over executive authority.
It would also position him squarely in the conversation about the Republican Party's future after Trump. Recent polling on the 2028 field shows Vice President JD Vance dominating the hypothetical GOP primary, but a DeSantis stint as the nation's top law enforcement officer could reshape that landscape considerably.
For now, Trump is keeping his cards close. He praised DeSantis, praised Blanche, praised the party, and committed to nothing. That is not unusual for a president who treats personnel decisions like negotiations, keeping leverage by keeping everyone guessing.
But the fact that Trump volunteered warm words about a man he once mocked relentlessly on the campaign trail tells you something about where the relationship stands. DeSantis earned his way back by doing the work: signing the legislation, building the library, enforcing the border, drawing the maps.
In Trump's world, loyalty is measured in deliverables. And right now, DeSantis is delivering.
