President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House on Friday that he could consider appointing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to a Cabinet position once the term-limited governor leaves office next year, a remarkable turn for two men who spent much of 2024 as bitter primary rivals.

"Well, I like him a lot," Trump said when asked about DeSantis, as Newsmax reported. He added: "Nobody's asked me that."

The comments, made as Trump headed to his Florida estate for the weekend, cap a steady rapprochement between the president and a governor who challenged him for the Republican presidential nomination less than two years ago. DeSantis's term ends in January, and the question of what comes next has quietly consumed Washington's attention for weeks.

From primary rivals to political allies

DeSantis launched a high-profile challenge to Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination. The campaign collapsed, and DeSantis later endorsed Trump. Since Trump began his second term, the governor has aligned closely with the president's agenda, particularly on immigration enforcement and redistricting, two areas where results matter more than rhetoric to conservative voters.

That alignment has been visible. DeSantis pushed Florida congressional maps designed to help Republicans in 2026, and he has worked hand-in-glove with the administration on illegal immigration priorities, the New York Post reported.

Trump himself put a number on the relationship during a July visit to Florida, rating DeSantis "10 out of 10, maybe 9.9."

The two men had lunch early last month at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, where DeSantis's future was discussed. One source told Newsmax that DeSantis is "looking for what to do next" and that Trump is inclined to consider helping the governor.

Another source offered a blunter read of the situation:

"There was a conversation at that lunch. I don't think AG is real. But he's gonna be looking for work and Trump likes him."

Cabinet vacancies and the DeSantis question

The timing matters because Trump has recently reshuffled his Cabinet. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer have all departed. Trump has not nominated permanent replacements for Bondi or Chavez-DeRemer. Former Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma was confirmed March 23 as Homeland Security secretary.

That leaves openings, and DeSantis's name has surfaced in connection with more than one of them. Axios reported on April 21 that Trump had told confidants DeSantis is "begging" for a job in the administration, including attorney general. Trump reportedly told one confidant:

"Ron was begging me to be AG [attorney general]."

Six sources briefed on the discussions told Newsmax that DeSantis has also expressed interest in serving as War secretary and in a potential role on the Supreme Court. No formal nomination process appears to be underway for any of those positions.

The defense angle is not new. Earlier in Trump's second term, when Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth faced drinking and sexual misconduct allegations, which Hegseth denied, Trump actively considered DeSantis as a possible replacement, Fox News reported. Trump and DeSantis discussed the possibility while appearing together at a memorial service in Florida. Hegseth ultimately fought to save his nomination.

That episode showed Trump was willing to think seriously about DeSantis for a senior national-security role, even while the primary wounds were still fresh.

A political transformation worth watching

The broader arc here is worth noting. DeSantis ran against Trump as a candidate who could deliver the same policies without the baggage. The pitch fell flat with Republican primary voters. But rather than retreat into sulking irrelevance, a path some defeated rivals choose, DeSantis made conspicuous moves toward Trump, signing legislation and advancing policy priorities that made the alignment unmistakable.

The governor's office was contacted by Newsmax for comment. Whether DeSantis's team responded was not reported.

DeSantis has also unveiled a new Florida congressional map designed to offset Democratic redistricting gains, another move that directly serves Republican interests heading into the 2026 midterms and further cements his standing with the party's base.

What remains unclear is which job, if any, Trump would actually offer. The attorney general slot, the War Department, a Supreme Court seat, each carries a different confirmation fight and a different political calculus. Trump's Friday remarks were warm but noncommittal. He said he likes DeSantis. He did not say he had a plan.

For DeSantis, the calculus is simpler. He is a term-limited governor with a record that resonates with the conservative base and a January expiration date on his current authority. A Cabinet appointment would keep him in the arena. The alternative is the speaking circuit and a think-tank office, a political purgatory that has swallowed many ambitious governors before him.

The left spent years casting DeSantis as a threat, then celebrated when his presidential bid flamed out. Now they may have to watch him walk into a Cabinet room. That kind of political comeback does not happen by accident, it happens when a leader swallows his pride, does the work, and earns back trust the hard way.

Open questions

Several things remain unresolved. Trump has not named a specific role for DeSantis. No formal nomination has been announced. The Senate confirmation landscape for any DeSantis appointment is unknown. And the gap between Trump telling reporters he "likes" someone and actually sending a name to Capitol Hill can be wide.

Trump's track record suggests he rewards loyalty and results in roughly equal measure. DeSantis has delivered both since the primary ended. Whether that earns him a seat at the table or just a kind word on the White House lawn is the question that will define the next chapter of his career.

In Washington, being liked by the president is nice. Being needed by the president is better. DeSantis appears to be working on both.