Miami, United States

Republicans Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis are reportedly trying to mend their ties. The former president and Florida governor, as per reports, met privately on Sunday (Apr 28) morning in Miami. This meeting, as per the Washington Post, breaks a years-long chill between the two.

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A potential détente

As per the report, the meeting was brokered by an ally who was hoping for a potential détente between the presumptive Republican nominee and his one-time chief primary rival.

The Washington Post reports that Steve Witkoff, a Florida real estate investor and developer known to both parties, was behind the meeting. 

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Also read | More than 50% of US voters don't like Trump for president, but more would prefer him over Biden: Poll

Trump's advisers are reportedly hoping that peace between the two men would lead to DeSantis allowing them to tap into his donor network to help raise significant sums for the general election.

A success

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Quoting people familiar with the matter, the Washington Post reports that Trump and DeSantis held talks for hours. The meeting "was friendly" and has reportedly resulted in the Florida governor agreeing to help Trump, who has lagged behind rival Joe Biden in the money chase. 

For DeSantis, a closer relationship with Republican frontrunner Trump is an incentive as he eyes his political future. He had dropped out from the presidential race in January after a disappointing finish in the Iowa primaries.

Also read | ‘Grown man running against a 6-year-old’: Biden roasts Trump at White House correspondents’ dinner 

At the time, he even released a video in which he endorsed Trump, saying, "It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance."

"They watched his presidency get stymied by relentless resistance, and they see Democrats using lawfare to this day to attack him."

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As per the Post, even before the strained relations, the two men had never been particularly close. However, Trump had once viewed DeSantis as a rising star in the Republican Party and had endorsed him in 2018 for governor of Florida.

(With inputs from agencies)