- Trump first mentioned DeSantis on Twitter almost 11 years ago.
- His 2018 endorsement helped DeSantis become governor.
- Fast forward to today, and the two are the most prominent Republicans in America.
Former President Donald Trump regularly reminds reporters and confidants that he thinks he “made” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
It’s a story that most people following politics have heard by now. Back in 2018, when DeSantis was a little-known congressman whose district included St. Augustine, it was Trump’s support that got him elected.
But what’s less well known is the more nuanced undercurrents over the years, including how DeSantis, early in his career, frequently sought support from other politicians. When DeSantis was in the Florida governor’s mansion, and Trump was in the White House, the two collaborated on several policies. Once Trump was out, DeSantis more aggressively began burnishing his own brand but still frequently drew comparisons to Trump.
As the saying goes, the student became the master.
By the 2022 midterms, DeSantis ran unapologetically on his own record, leaving Trump behind. Should DeSantis choose to run for president in 2024 (and most assume he will, he would need to make the case for why voters should choose him instead of Trump. That’s already starting now that the two are feuding more openly.
The sparring is one of the biggest stories in politics, and it has all been more than a decade in the making.
Scroll through to see how the Trump-DeSantis relationship evolved over the years — and how it turned sour.
