Amid Governor Run Speculation, Casey DeSantis Joins Ron for Golf and Dinner with Trump

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis joined President Donald Trump for a round of golf and lunch on Saturday, further fueling speculation that Casey may launch a bid for governor in 2026. The high-profile meeting at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach comes just days after Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) announced his candidacy following Trump’s endorsement.

When pressed about her potential gubernatorial run, Casey DeSantis offered a cryptic but telling response: “To quote the late and great Yogi Berra: ‘When you come to a fork in the road, take it.’”

Her rising political profile and unwavering commitment to conservative values have made her an increasingly serious contender in Florida’s GOP landscape.

Governor DeSantis didn’t hold back when discussing the race for his successor, casting doubt on Byron Donalds’ ability to lead Florida while offering strong praise for Casey.

“We have such a narrow majority that to be trying to campaign other places and missing these votes, I think, is not something that’s advisable at all,” DeSantis said of Donalds.

He also questioned Donalds’ contributions to Florida’s conservative victories, emphasizing that Casey has been a key player in advancing the state’s transformation into a GOP stronghold.

“People ask me all the time about our wonderful first lady, who has done a fantastic job as first lady of Florida,” DeSantis said, before delivering a striking endorsement.

“I won by the biggest margin that any Republican’s ever won a governor’s race here in Florida. She would do better than me, like there’s no question about that.”

DeSantis also recalled a conversation with the late Rush Limbaugh, who had a reputation for correctly identifying political talent.

“Rush would always say the spouses are more liberal, and it pulls the officeholder to the left,” DeSantis recounted. “And on this case, he’s saying, like, that is not true.”

At the end of their dinner, Limbaugh pointed to Casey and said, ‘The only person I would rather have as my governor than you is her.’

Trump’s warm meeting with the DeSantises following months of political tension between him and the Florida governor is a clear signal that he will play a major role in shaping Florida’s GOP leadership.

If Casey DeSantis does enter the race, it would set up a high-stakes battle between two of the strongest conservative figures in the state. With Florida now one of the most solidly red states in the country, the winner of the GOP primary will almost certainly become the next governor.

With the DeSantises’ meeting with Trump and Casey’s growing momentum, the battle for Florida’s future is already taking shape.

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