TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The pressure is mounting for Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint Lara Trump to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy left by Marco Rubio, who was tapped to serve as President-elect Donald Trump’s Secretary of State.
But DeSantis, freshly returned from a weeklong trade mission to Italy, said he is weeks away from making a choice, even as influential MAGA supporters push the president-elect’s daughter-in-law for the position.
Several candidates have already made their interest known and several others are expected to be considered, too, DeSantis said.
“More extensive vetting and candidate interviews will be conducted over the next few weeks, with a selection likely made by the beginning of January,” DeSantis said in a message posted on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk.
DeSantis said Florida deserves a senator who will help Trump carry out his agenda to strengthen immigration and border security, “take on the entrenched bureaucracy and administrative state,” and improve the economy.
The candidate should be “animated by conservative principles” and have a proven track record, DeSantis said.
“I have not been asked yet, but I certainly would strongly consider it if it’s presented to me,” Lara Trump told Fox commentator Maria Bartiromo Thursday. She said she had not heard from DeSantis, however.
Trump nominated Rubio, a U.S. Senator from Miami since 2011, to head up the Department of State. DeSantis must appoint a replacement who will serve until a special election is held in 2026.
Rubio would begin his new job on Jan. 20, after Trump is sworn in and his administration officially begins. As head of the State Department, Rubio would oversee foreign relations policy.
Those closest to DeSantis have said he would most likely pick someone to serve out the next two years to be a placeholder, rather than a strong contender who would run for the seat in 2026. James Uthmeier, the governor’s chief of staff, was mentioned by insiders as DeSantis’ first choice, followed by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez and Attorney General Ashley Moody.
But MAGA supporters began lobbying hard on social media for Lara Trump, a former television producer and the spouse of Eric Trump, son of the president-elect. They have lived in Jupiter since 2021.
Not only has she been endorsed by Musk, but Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna and brother-in-law Donald Trump Jr. also said she’d be a good pick.
Sen. Joe Gruters, former chair of the Republican Party of Florida, said “the fact that Lara Trump went on live TV to make an ask” should be a pretty clear sign to DeSantis that Trump wants her selected.
“Lara has proven herself,” Gruters said. As co-chair of the Republican National Committee, she helped elect her father-in-law and helped flip many congressional seats red, he said.
Tapping Lara Trump could solidify DeSantis’ relationship with Trump, which has been strained for years, ever since a falling out between DeSantis and Trump campaign manager Susie Wiles after she helped him win his first term as governor in 2018. The divide between the two politicians grew when DeSantis challenged Trump for the Republican presidential nomination last year but has been on the mend since DeSantis dropped out after the Iowa caucuses and endorsed Trump for president.
Those close to DeSantis said the relationship is much better. The two had a sit down in April brokered by real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, Trump’s pick for special envoy in the Middle East. DeSantis also played golf with Trump at his Bedminster club in New Jersey and speaks on the phone with him occasionally, sources inside the DeSantis circle said.
“This is about doing the right thing and there is nobody better than his daughter-in-law,” Gruters said.
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