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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigned alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin in New York ahead of the 2022 midterms, calling him an "important choice" on issues of crime and COVID-19 mitigation measures.
But on Monday, Zeldin thanked DeSantis for his support by endorsing the person who would be his biggest GOP rival should he enter the 2024 presidential primary: former President Donald Trump.
"The GOP is filled with amazing talent to save our country from the failed policies of the Biden Admin," Zeldin wrote on Twitter. "Our nominee in 2024 will be the 45th & 47th POTUS, Donald Trump. Our economy will be stronger, our streets will be safer, & our lives will be freer. He has my full support!"
Zeldin, who lost his gubernatorial race in November to incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, has supported Trump since his 2016 presidential bid and voted to overturn the 2020 election results. He held a fundraiser at Trump's New Jersey resort and the ex-president endorsed him a few weeks before the election.
Still, speculation mounted in the political world that Zeldin was keeping his options open when it came to the 2024 race, given that he appeared next to DeSantis in Staten Island in February at an event intended to show support for law enforcement.
At that event, Zeldin said he'd known DeSantis well from their time working together in the US House, and described the governor as a "work horse."
"It has been too long since we've been able to hear a voice of a governor who is unapologetically fighting for us and our families to keep us safe, prosperous and free," Zeldin said.
DeSantis was in Japan at the time of Zeldin's announcement, where he spent the day meeting with the prime minister and with business leaders. Asked during that trip about slipping in the polls against Trump, DeSantis replied, "I'm not a candidate, so we'll see if and when that changes."
Aside from sagging poll numbers in a hypothetical primary against Trump, DeSantis has been losing support among members of his own party. The Florida delegation in Congress has overwhelmingly endorsed Trump, including GOP Rep. Byron Donalds, who has been close to DeSantis for years and even introduced the governor on Election Night, just after his nearly 20-point reelection bid.
A representative for DeSantis' political operation did not reply to a request for comment from Insider, but the Never Back Down PAC that's supporting DeSantis weighed in.
"Donald Trump had nearly unanimous Republican support in 2020 and every voice that isn't behind him now is a defection," Erin Perrine, communications director for the group, told Insider. "Additionally, nearly half of Republicans don't want the former president to run again per recent polling. Trump only has ground to lose on endorsements while Governor DeSantis, who isn't even an announced candidate, continues to have a growing base of support."
