Former Official Turns on Trump, Endorses DeSantis

(RepublicanPress.org) – With the 2024 general election quickly approaching, voters on both sides of the political aisle are already thinking about who they might support next as leader of the free world. So far, former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are the only ones who have announced a run on the Republican side, but there’s another person from the Right who is gaining support even though he hasn’t announced he’s running — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

On February 21, POLITICO reported about two simultaneous events happening in Florida involving Trump and DeSantis, each hosting potential donors to support their political aspirations. An unnamed source told reporters that one person who previously contributed to the former president’s run for the White House in 2016 and 2020 has turned toward DeSantis for 2024 — Don Tapia, the former ambassador to Jamaica under Trump.

Trump's former ambassador Donald Tapia endorses Ron DeSantis for president https://t.co/KZYrawC8KO pic.twitter.com/qfvsaeQCs7

— New York Post (@nypost) February 22, 2023

The former official noted his reasoning for the switch was due to Trump’s consistent habit of “name-calling.” Tapia said the practice is causing “a lot of people” to run away from the former US leader. The former ambassador and retired executive already gave DeSantis $50,000 to help him retain his governorship in the Sunshine State and reportedly hosted fundraisers on his behalf.

However, some some are still supporting Trump’s bid to return to the Oval Office. According to The Washington Post, over 30 Republicans in Congress are behind the former president, including Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and JD Vance (R-OH), and Representatives Jim Jordan (R-OH), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), and Ronny Jackson (R-TX).

As for DeSantis throwing his hat in the ring, The Hill reported that the Florida leader recently appeared on Fox & Friends, where he indicated he could make a final decision in the spring. If he does, it appears he’ll already have a generous backer in his corner.