DeSantis Denies Presidential Run After Washington Post Report
The Florida governor claims the newspaper fabricated his campaign intentions, even as he remains silent on his post-gubernatorial plans.
By Talia Bennett ·
Florida politics often moves at the speed of a rumor, but this week's speculation about the state's top executive moved faster. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that Ron DeSantis intends to seek the Republican nomination for president. The publication stated that the governor contacted at least one national political consultant regarding campaign strategy, citing a source close to him.
DeSantis rejected the report the same evening. He posted on social media that the Washington Post was "fabricating this out of whole cloth." He added, "I have not reached out to anybody about running for anything. Just another pathetic attempt to garner clicks." He further criticized the outlet, writing, "Friends don’t let friends read the Washington Post."
The governor has not announced his next role since Byron Donalds won the governor's race. Donalds is scheduled to take office in January. DeSantis's silence leaves his immediate political future undefined, though his previous actions suggest a continued interest in national politics.
DeSantis spent the 2024 cycle campaigning in Iowa. During that run, he aligned much of his platform with President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda. He struggled to distinguish his message from the incumbent president's. In an interview with Gray Media's Florida Capital Bureau Chief Matt Hoffmann, DeSantis noted that Trump focused on personal retribution. "It’s not going to be about me.. You’ll have a better economy just like we’ve done in Florida," DeSantis said.
On immigration, the Florida candidate said he would prioritize deporting recent arrivals paroled under President Joe Biden rather than focusing on DACA recipients. He also differentiated his economic record by emphasizing "fiscal responsibility." "In Florida, I’ve paid down the state’s debt since I’ve been governor," he stated.
Despite those efforts, DeSantis finished second in the Iowa Caucuses. He trailed Trump by roughly 30 points but placed ahead of former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. The result cemented his position as a serious, though secondary, contender in that cycle. Now, as the Washington Post report circulates, DeSantis faces another round of speculation while his term as governor nears its end.
The next major date on the calendar is the inauguration of Byron Donalds. Until then, DeSantis will remain the sitting governor, though his official duties will wind down. No formal announcement regarding his post-gubernatorial plans has been made.
