Florida Politics on the Horizon [WATCH]

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joined President-elect Donald Trump for a round of golf on Tuesday, sparking plenty of speculation about the future of Florida politics and Trump’s immigration agenda.

Ron DeSantis at Trump’s golf club today. What’s on his jacket? pic.twitter.com/GYB9rGejCU

— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) January 15, 2025

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As reported by The Hill, the meeting comes as DeSantis deliberates over who will replace outgoing Senator Marco Rubio, who’s set to become Trump’s Secretary of State, pending Senate confirmation.

🚨BREAKING: President Trump just finished golfing with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at his West Palm Beach golf course. pic.twitter.com/pjjKbopmqQ

— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) January 14, 2025

Among the names in the mix for Rubio’s seat are Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, and the governor’s chief of staff James Uthmeier.

According to sources, Moody is currently the top contender. DeSantis is expected to make his decision before Trump’s inauguration, as Rubio prepares for his confirmation hearing this Wednesday.

While much of the political chatter focuses on the Senate seat, the governor also made headlines for his proactive stance on Trump’s immigration policies. DeSantis announced plans to convene a special legislative session on January 27 to ensure Florida is ready to implement Trump’s agenda to combat illegal immigration.

Today, I called for a special session of the Florida legislature the week of January 27 to prepare Florida to lead on the Trump Administration’s deportation program. We will allocate resources and ensure state and local officials in Florida are supporting these efforts.

We have… pic.twitter.com/glzTXeNndD

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 13, 2025

Trump expressed his gratitude to DeSantis via a post on Truth Social, saying: “Thank you Ron, hopefully other Governors will follow!”

President Trump approves this message. pic.twitter.com/jGNT5xuPM6

— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) January 14, 2025

However, not everyone in Florida’s Republican ranks is on board. State Senate President Ben Albritton and State House Speaker Daniel Perez criticized the timing of the session, labeling it “premature” in a joint letter to lawmakers.

DeSantis wasted no time firing back, stating on X, “We have a responsibility to be in this fight. State and local officials in Florida MUST HELP the Trump administration enforce our nation’s immigration law.”

“We are going to need legislation to impose additional duties and provide funding for those local officials.”

🚨 #BREAKING: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis calls a SPECIAL SESSION of the legislature to REQUIRE local governments in the entire state to enforce Trump’s deportations.

WOW!

“We have a responsibility to be in this fight. State and local officials in Florida MUST HELP the Trump… pic.twitter.com/RJ6nXX3494

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 13, 2025

DeSantis’s swift move highlights the ongoing tension between the conservative grassroots base and the more cautious establishment Republicans within the state. The governor seems unfazed, doubling down on his alignment with Trump’s vision for America, even at the cost of ruffling some GOP feathers.

As Florida gears up for major shifts in its political landscape, all eyes remain on DeSantis. His choices for Rubio’s successor and his willingness to push forward Trump’s immigration policies could define his leadership heading into 2024.