Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Refuses to Rule Out 2028 Presidential Run After Begging Donald Trump for a Job

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently declined to rule out a 2028 presidential bid following reports that he has been "begging" President Donald Trump for a senior position in his administration, including roles as Attorney General or Secretary of Defense.

Early polls show DeSantis, whose term ends in 2027, often trailing behind key contenders, with some surveys placing him in low single digits among potential 2028 Republican primary voters.

While not always the least popular candidate, his polling numbers have consistently lagged far behind those of frontrunner Vice President J.D. Vance.

During a recent sit-down with Fox News, DeSantis responded, "We'll see," when asked about another White House run.

At the Milken Institute Global Conference in May 2026, he stated "you never know" regarding his future, while boasting of his role as a ruthless culture warrior in Florida, spending taxpayer money on social issues rather than addressing economic issues that have made Florida one of the least affordable states in the country.

“We’ve got a good story to tell,” he said. “We’re proud of the leadership we’ve been able to provide.”

DeSantis has argued that he would have won nearly 90 percent of Trump’s supporters in the 2024 primary had the president not been in the race.

Trump engaged in a sustained, year-long campaign to humiliate and diminish the awkward 47-year-old governor during the 2024 Republican primary, utilizing derogatory nicknames like "Rob DeSanctimonious," personal insults, and political maneuvering to cripple his rival's ambitions.

Trump's attacks, which included mocking and personal criticisms of DeSantis' weight and demeanor — he called him "Meatball Ron" — contributed to DeSantis' polling decline and, ultimately, to a suspended campaign and an endorsement of Trump.

Despite that, reports swirled that the Florida governor was begging the POTUS for a job as his gubernatorial career is about to end in the Sunshine State.

Reports from Axios and other outlets detailed a lunch meeting at Trump National Doral Golf Club, where sources claim DeSantis actively sought a role in Trump’s second-term cabinet.

Sources indicate he expressed interest in leading the Department of Justice (AG) or the Pentagon (Defense), or in receiving a Supreme Court appointment.

Trump reportedly told confidants that DeSantis was "begging" to be AG, though some insiders doubt such an appointment is likely. Despite this, Trump has publicly stated that he "likes him a lot" and may consider him for a position.

DeSantis reportedly faces opposition from Trump’s inner circle, including Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, due to their acrimonious history from the 2024 campaign.

Insiders say Trump doesn’t want to attach his name to a widely unpopular governor, who has been labeled outside the MAGA sphere as one of the "worst" governors in the state's history. Critics typically point to his focus on "culture war" politics and specific policy outcomes as the basis for these claims.

Florida's teacher pay has been ranked the worst in the country, leading the Florida Education Association to accuse DeSantis of failing public schools by diverting funds to voucher programs.

DeSantis has also been dubbed the "worst property insurance governor," citing the state's ongoing insurance crisis and rising premiums.

Climate activists have named him the "worst governor in Florida's history" regarding environmental issues, arguing that his pro-fossil fuel policies have worsened the state's vulnerability to extreme weather.

Opponents criticize his "Don't Say Gay" legislation, restrictions on voting rights, and his high-profile feud with Disney, describing these actions as authoritarian or retaliatory.

The organization All Voting is Local named him the "most dangerous election denier in Florida" in 2026 for his efforts to police voter fraud and redraw electoral maps.

Analysts have noted that DeSantis, once considered a top-tier contender (dubbed "DeFuture" in 2022), has seen his standing in 2028 weakened compared to the early 2024 primary, with some describing him as "diminished.”

He is also embroiled in the "Hope Florida" scandal, which alleges that the DeSantis administration steered $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to his wife Casey DeSantis' charity, which then funded a political committee managed by his staff to defeat a 2024 recreational marijuana amendment.

The scandal involves potential illegal fund diversion, leading to criminal investigations, a grand jury probe, and intense scrutiny of Casey's signature program.