Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis have been circling each other like prizefighters for months.
The two political heavyweights have been jockeying for control over Florida’s Republican future.
But Donald Trump just gave Ron DeSantis the biggest gift he could have asked for.
Trump backs Uthmeier despite his role in DeSantis’ failed presidential campaign
President Trump shocked the political world Wednesday when he endorsed Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier for a full term in 2026.
The endorsement came as a surprise to many in Tallahassee who expected Trump to back someone else for the job.
Uthmeier was DeSantis’ chief of staff and later managed his presidential campaign that crashed and burned against Trump in the Republican primary.
Uthmeier had been campaign manager for DeSantis’ presidential campaign and "sharply criticized Trump" during that heated battle.
But Trump chose to forgive and forget in his endorsement of Uthmeier.
"James Uthmeier is a Strong Conservative Fighter and Prosecutor, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!" Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday morning.
The President praised Uthmeier as "an America First Warrior" and called him "THE MAN behind ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ," the immigration detention center in the Everglades.
Trump also highlighted Uthmeier’s work "argued strongly at the United States Supreme Court in defense of my Executive Power to fire Deep State bureaucrats" and his leadership where "over 1,000 CRIMINAL PEDOPHILES have been arrested."
https://twitter.com/JamesUthmeierFL/status/1975948787836502448
Trump’s team was courting House Speaker Daniel Perez
The endorsement effectively ended months of speculation about whether Trump would support a DeSantis ally.
DeSantis tapped Uthmeier for the attorney general job in February after promoting Ashley Moody to fill Marco Rubio’s Senate seat.
Several Florida political operatives confirmed that Trump’s allies had been recruiting House Speaker Daniel Perez to mount a primary challenge against Uthmeier.
A Trump-backed Perez candidacy would have created the epic political showdown many were expecting between the two Florida powerhouses.
Perez had been investigating the Hope Florida Foundation scandal that has dogged Uthmeier.
House investigators examined how $10 million from a Medicaid settlement flowed through the state charity.
"The money appears to have gone to a political committee Uthmeier controlled to help Gov. Ron DeSantis defeat a recreational marijuana amendment on last year’s ballot."
A Leon County grand jury is now investigating the Hope Florida matter as part of a criminal probe.
A source familiar with Perez’s thinking said Wednesday that while the Miami Republican felt "honored to be encouraged to run," he never seriously considered seeking the attorney general post.
https://twitter.com/JamesUthmeierFL/status/1976075401681306035
Smart politics brings Trump and DeSantis closer together
Trump’s decision to endorse Uthmeier shows the political calculation both men are making as they look toward 2026 and beyond.
The endorsement eliminates the possibility of an all-out Trump-DeSantis political war in Florida’s major statewide contests.
Trump has already endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds for governor and Sen. Ashley Moody for re-election to the Senate.
DeSantis, meanwhile, has lined up his closest allies in key positions throughout state government.
If Uthmeier wins and serves two full terms, he’ll control the attorney general’s office for a decade.
The same goes for Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, another DeSantis appointee Trump has chosen not to challenge.
Both men understand that Florida’s political future is bigger than their personal rivalry.
Trump is a Florida resident now, along with his children, and wants allies governing the state where he lives.
DeSantis has already pushed Florida in a conservative direction and is installing loyalists who can continue that work long after he leaves office.
The relationship between the two has thawed considerably since Trump’s inauguration in January.
DeSantis has supported virtually all of Trump’s initiatives, and Washington recently paid Florida back more than $600 million for running Alligator Alcatraz.
"Thank you, Mr. President," Uthmeier responded on X less than an hour later. "I will keep fighting on behalf of Floridians and the American People, and I won’t let you down."
The biggest winner in all this might be Florida conservatives who get the best of both political powerhouses working together instead of against each other.
¹ Alexandra Glorioso, "Trump endorses Uthmeier for Florida attorney general," Tampa Bay Times, October 8, 2025.
² Gary Fineout, "Trump backs DeSantis-allied Uthmeier for Florida attorney general," Politico, October 8, 2025.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Mitch Perry, "Trump is backing James Uthmeier for Florida attorney general in 2026," Florida Phoenix, October 8, 2025.
