Latest news with #JoeGruters
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘He fumbled this 1,000%': How Ron DeSantis keeps making powerful enemies in Trump's GOP
Thirty minutes into a routine appearance Thursday on Florida's Gulf Coast, Gov. Ron DeSantis abruptly turned his fire on a fellow Republican, accusing a veteran state lawmaker of betraying the party's voters. Hours later, President Donald Trump endorsed that same lawmaker, Joe Gruters, to become the next chairman of the Republican National Committee. For DeSantis, the episode reinforced a pattern: picking fights that come back to haunt him. Trump's inner circle was already full of people who have no love lost for the Florida governor — a reality that has isolated DeSantis within his home state ever since he ended his 2024 presidential campaign. Now, the most powerful official post in the Republican Party is likely to be filled by another foe, further clouding the political ambitions of both DeSantis and his wife, Casey. Ron DeSantis, who has kept the door open to another White House bid, could find himself running in a presidential primary partially controlled by an RNC chairman he has repeatedly spurned. Casey DeSantis, meanwhile, has taken steps toward succeeding her husband in Tallahassee next year in a race that would pit her against Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican backed by both Trump and Gruters. The elevation of Gruters to lead the RNC blindsided Gov. DeSantis, according to people close to his political operation. With Trump's support, Gruters had previously filed to run for chief financial officer of Florida in 2026, a statewide position, and the RNC reelected the current party chairman, Michael Whatley, to another term in January following the GOP's successes last fall. While Gruters was RNC treasurer, a promotion seemed unlikely anytime soon. It also appeared as though DeSantis and Trump had largely buried the hatchet after their contentious presidential primary last year. They stood side-by-side earlier this month for the opening of a new migrant detention center in the Everglades known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' where they showered each other in compliments. 'You are my friend, and you'll always be my friend, and we may have some skirmishes, even in the future. I doubt it, but I will always come back, because we have blood that seems to match pretty well,' Trump said. But the political playing field changed rapidly Thursday, when Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, decided not to run for Senate in North Carolina. Whatley, a former party chair in the Tar Heel State, then made clear that he would run instead with Trump's backing, leaving an opening atop the party. By then, DeSantis had spent weeks trying to take down Gruters. He appointed state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a close ally, to become the state's CFO and immediately backed him in the GOP primary against Gruters. In appearances around Florida, he shrugged off Trump's endorsement while bashing Gruters' conservative credentials. 'If George Washington rose from the dead and came back and tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'Will you appoint Joe Gruters CFO?' My response would be, 'No,'' DeSantis said earlier this month. 'I can't do that without betraying the voters that elected me to lead this state in a conservative direction.' The criticism continued Thursday when DeSantis appeared just outside Gruters' district to pile on more attacks. But that evening, Trump threw his support behind Whatley for US Senate and Gruters for RNC chair in a post on social media. The ramifications of DeSantis' maneuvering against Gruters quickly crystalized. 'The governor did not see this coming at all,' a person close to DeSantis acknowledged. 'He fumbled this 1,000%.' A spokesperson for DeSantis' political operation did not respond to questions from CNN. Gruters declined to comment. A person familiar with Gruters' thinking told CNN that he hopes to lead the party through the 2028 presidential cycle. DeSantis has long earned a reputation in Florida for burning bridges on the way to the top. At first, the approach paid off. In 2018, DeSantis flouted the party establishment by running for governor and knocking off the preferred Republican thanks to Trump's support. He then unceremoniously jettisoned the operatives who helped him win, including veteran Republican strategist Susie Wiles and top adviser James Blair. As he amassed political clout, he stepped over other Republicans in the state, including many in the congressional delegation, who grumbled at their lack of relationship with the state's pugnacious leader. For a time, it appeared DeSantis could be the future of the party, and he ran for president over the objections of Trump, his former friend. But as DeSantis' presidential campaign floundered, the enemies he made along the way resurfaced. Many of those members of Congress endorsed Trump over their home-state governor. Wiles became Trump's co-campaign manager. Trump ridiculed DeSantis en route to defeating him. After his November victory, Trump named Wiles his chief of staff and Blair to oversee his political operation from the White House. Chris LaCivita, Trump's other campaign manager who feuded with DeSantis during the presidential primary, is spearheading the GOP's midterm efforts. Other Floridians more loyal to Trump than DeSantis have been handed key roles, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. DeSantis has yet to course correct as he regroups in Florida. He continues to recruit candidates to go up against Donalds — one of those Republicans who endorsed Trump over the governor — if Casey DeSantis doesn't run. He has publicly clashed with state lawmakers from his own party for blocking his agenda, lobbing personal attacks. Still, few people in Florida politics once close to the governor could comprehend why Ron DeSantis didn't appoint Gruters as CFO to extend a low-stakes olive branch to Trump. Now, they said, he may pay a price. 'His blind spot is he doesn't have a magnanimous bone in his body,' a veteran Republican fundraiser in Florida said. 'Once he has a negative opinion of someone, he cannot pivot even out of political necessity.'
CNN
3 days ago
- Business
- CNN
‘He fumbled this 1,000%': How Ron DeSantis keeps making powerful enemies in Trump's GOP
Thirty minutes into a routine appearance Thursday on Florida's Gulf Coast, Gov. Ron DeSantis abruptly turned his fire on a fellow Republican, accusing a veteran state lawmaker of betraying the party's voters. Hours later, President Donald Trump endorsed that same lawmaker, Joe Gruters, to become the next chairman of the Republican National Committee. For DeSantis, the episode reinforced a pattern: picking fights that come back to haunt him. Trump's inner circle was already full of people who have no love lost for the Florida governor — a reality that has isolated DeSantis within his home state ever since he ended his 2024 presidential campaign. Now, the most powerful official post in the Republican Party is likely to be filled by another foe, further clouding the political ambitions of both DeSantis and his wife, Casey. Ron DeSantis, who has kept the door open to another White House bid, could find himself running in a presidential primary partially controlled by an RNC chairman he has repeatedly spurned. Casey DeSantis, meanwhile, has taken steps toward succeeding her husband in Tallahassee next year in a race that would pit her against Rep. Byron Donalds, a Naples Republican backed by both Trump and Gruters. The elevation of Gruters to lead the RNC blindsided Gov. DeSantis, according to people close to his political operation. With Trump's support, Gruters had previously filed to run for chief financial officer of Florida in 2026, a statewide position, and the RNC reelected the current party chairman, Michael Whatley, to another term in January following the GOP's successes last fall. While Gruters was RNC treasurer, a promotion seemed unlikely anytime soon. It also appeared as though DeSantis and Trump had largely buried the hatchet after their contentious presidential primary last year. They stood side-by-side earlier this month for the opening of a new migrant detention center in the Everglades known as 'Alligator Alcatraz,' where they showered each other in compliments. 'You are my friend, and you'll always be my friend, and we may have some skirmishes, even in the future. I doubt it, but I will always come back, because we have blood that seems to match pretty well,' Trump said. But the political playing field changed rapidly Thursday, when Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, decided not to run for Senate in North Carolina. Whatley, a former party chair in the Tar Heel State, then made clear that he would run instead with Trump's backing, leaving an opening atop the party. By then, DeSantis had spent weeks trying to take down Gruters. He appointed state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a close ally, to become the state's CFO and immediately backed him in the GOP primary against Gruters. In appearances around Florida, he shrugged off Trump's endorsement while bashing Gruters' conservative credentials. 'If George Washington rose from the dead and came back and tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'Will you appoint Joe Gruters CFO?' My response would be, 'No,'' DeSantis said earlier this month. 'I can't do that without betraying the voters that elected me to lead this state in a conservative direction.' The criticism continued Thursday when DeSantis appeared just outside Gruters' district to pile on more attacks. But that evening, Trump threw his support behind Whatley for US Senate and Gruters for RNC chair in a post on social media. The ramifications of DeSantis' maneuvering against Gruters quickly crystalized. 'The governor did not see this coming at all,' a person close to DeSantis acknowledged. 'He fumbled this 1,000%.' A spokesperson for DeSantis' political operation did not respond to questions from CNN. Gruters declined to comment. A person familiar with Gruters' thinking told CNN that he hopes to lead the party through the 2028 presidential cycle. DeSantis has long earned a reputation in Florida for burning bridges on the way to the top. At first, the approach paid off. In 2018, DeSantis flouted the party establishment by running for governor and knocking off the preferred Republican thanks to Trump's support. He then unceremoniously jettisoned the operatives who helped him win, including veteran Republican strategist Susie Wiles and top adviser James Blair. As he amassed political clout, he stepped over other Republicans in the state, including many in the congressional delegation, who grumbled at their lack of relationship with the state's pugnacious leader. For a time, it appeared DeSantis could be the future of the party, and he ran for president over the objections of Trump, his former friend. But as DeSantis' presidential campaign floundered, the enemies he made along the way resurfaced. Many of those members of Congress endorsed Trump over their home-state governor. Wiles became Trump's co-campaign manager. Trump ridiculed DeSantis en route to defeating him. After his November victory, Trump named Wiles his chief of staff and Blair to oversee his political operation from the White House. Chris LaCivita, Trump's other campaign manager who feuded with DeSantis during the presidential primary, is spearheading the GOP's midterm efforts. Other Floridians more loyal to Trump than DeSantis have been handed key roles, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. DeSantis has yet to course correct as he regroups in Florida. He continues to recruit candidates to go up against Donalds — one of those Republicans who endorsed Trump over the governor — if Casey DeSantis doesn't run. He has publicly clashed with state lawmakers from his own party for blocking his agenda, lobbing personal attacks. Still, few people in Florida politics once close to the governor could comprehend why Ron DeSantis didn't appoint Gruters as CFO to extend a low-stakes olive branch to Trump. Now, they said, he may pay a price. 'His blind spot is he doesn't have a magnanimous bone in his body,' a veteran Republican fundraiser in Florida said. 'Once he has a negative opinion of someone, he cannot pivot even out of political necessity.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump backs Joe Gruters of Florida as next RNC chair
President Trump on Thursday threw his support behind Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters (R) to serve as the next head of the Republican National Committee (RNC) with current chairman Michael Whatley set to announce a Senate bid in the coming days. Trump in a Truth Social post endorsed Whatley to run for Senate in North Carolina to replace Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who will not seek reelection. A source familiar with the matter confirmed to The Hill earlier Thursday that Whatley was expected to run for the seat, with Trump's blessing. 'Mike would make an unbelievable Senator from North Carolina,' Trump said of Whatley, who previously led the North Carolina GOP. 'He is fantastic at everything he does, and he was certainly great at the RNC where, in the Presidential Election, we won every Swing State, the Popular Vote, and the Electoral College by a landslide!' 'Fortunately, I have somebody who will do a wonderful job as the Chairman of the RNC,' Trump added. 'His name is, Joe Gruters, and he will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. So, should Michael Whatley run for the Senate, please let this notification represent my Complete and Total Endorsement.' Gruters is a Trump ally who has served in the Florida Senate since 2018 and as RNC treasurer since earlier this year. Gruters has clashed with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who was a bitter rival of Trump during the 2024 presidential primary. Gruters would need to be elected by RNC members to lead the organization, but would likely face no competition with Trump's backing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump says Florida's Joe Gruters should run the RNC
Donald Trump wants Florida's Joe Gruters to be the next chairperson of the Republican National Committee. It would be a massive new role for Gruters, a Florida state senator who's long been close to Trump. The current chairperson, Michael Whatley, is likely to run for the open U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina. 'I have somebody who will do a wonderful job as the Chairman of the RNC. His name is Joe Gruters, and he will have my Complete and Total Endorsement,' Trump posted to his social media site Truth Social on Thursday evening. A Gruters win would be a potentially awkward moment for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who sought the presidency in 2024 and could do so again in 2028. The Republican National Committee holds great sway over the party's fundraising strategy, and DeSantis has been a frequent critic of Gruters. Most recently, the two butted heads over Gruters' proposal on immigration that would have made Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson the state's chief immigration officer. In Wednesday post to X, DeSantis called that bill a 'truly contemptible piece of legislation.' Trump had previously endorsed Gruters, of Sarasota, to be the state's next chief financial officer. Jimmy Patronis left the post in November to run for an open U.S. House seat, which he won in March. But DeSantis didn't appoint Gruters to serve out the rest of Patronis' term. He picked Blaise Ingoglia, a state senator and key DeSantis ally in the Legislature. DeSantis seemed to be gearing up for a primary battle between Ingoglia — his preferred candidate — and Gruters. It's possible no such primary will occur. If Gruters wins the Republican National Committee vote, set for Aug. 18-22 in Atlanta, he would abandon his run for Florida CFO, a political spokesperson said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Endorses Sarasota's Joe Gruters to Lead Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee will need a new leader soon to replace the current chairman who is stepping down to run for a North Carolina U.S. Senate seat − and President Donald Trump's choice is in Sarasota. 'Fortunately, I have somebody who will do a wonderful job as the Chairman of the RNC,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'His name is Joe Gruters, and he will have my Complete and Total Endorsement.' Gruters, a Florida state senator representing Sarasota County, is the RNC's treasurer and was previously chair of the Florida Republican Party. He is also running in 2026 to be Florida's Chief Financial Officer. The RNC's current chairman, Michael Whatley, is leaving to run for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, according to reporting by Politico. Gruters was also endorsed by longtime U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Longboat Key, in a statement Friday morning. 'I've known Joe for over 20 years and have witnessed his strategic vision and steadfast commitment to conservative principles,' Buchanan said. 'His passion, integrity, and leadership make him the right person for the job.' Although Trump and DeSantis appeared to have reconciled at Alligator Alcatraz, they are on opposite sides when it comes to the Florida Chief Financial Officer statewide race. DeSantis appointed a key ally in the Legislature, state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a Hernando County Republican as interim as CFO to set him up to run for the position next year, while top Trump political advisors Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio this month joined Gruters' campaign, announced last year. DeSantis and Ingoglia were in Bradenton on Thursday to announce an audit of the Manatee County government, amid the board of county commissioners' hardline stance against development interests. As of Friday, Ingoglia has not yet officially filed to run for the seat in 2026, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Gruters has raised $348,295 since he announced his candidacy in 2024. A political action committee in his name, 'Friends of Joe Gruters,' has raised an additional $711,275. Christian Casale covers local government for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Email him at ccasale@ or christiancasale@ This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Trump backs Sarasota's Gruters as RNC Chair, amid Florida CFO race
