TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — They say time heals all wounds. If that’s the case, its likely that a mended relationship between Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump is going to require exactly that — another dose of father time.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Trump team took a swing at Gov. DeSantis after 2024 remarks raised eyebrows

  •  The dustup comes as U.S. Florida Senator Marco Rubio enters the VP conversation

  •  DeSantis suggested Florida isn't a competive state and even offered support to Republicans nationally

  • Trump team rebuked the Governor in a statement

The governor endured yet another dust-up against the former president on Wednesday, coming just hours after DeSantis appeared to sidestep a question on whether Republicans might see him on the campaign trail alongside Trump. 

“This is not going to be a state that’s competitive in November and that’s just the reality,” DeSantis told reporters in response to the prompt. “I don’t anticipate there being much campaign here for the top of the ticket.”

Indeed, as DeSantis highlighted in his remarks, the odds are in favor of Trump in Florida. DeSantis, a Republican, is coming off of a historic reelection landslide — the largest margin of victory in Florida in the roughly last two decades Plus, Republicans in the state enjoy a higher voter registration rate and a notably larger donor base.

“I do think there’s going to be some local races that are going to be very important that we’ll be involved with,” DeSantis added on Wednesday. “How I can help nationally? I want to be able to do that. I don’t know how exactly.”

DeSantis’ remarks, meanwhile, drew a stern Trump team response. DeSantis also left a question unaddressed, asking who he voted for Tuesday in the Florida primary. 

“Ron really shouldn’t flatter himself by assuming we’d want him on the campaign trail,” said Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesperson. 

The latest dustup between Trump and DeSantis comes as another Florida Republican regains the spotlight. Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a former presidential candidate, is reportedly on the short list as a running mate to Trump.

“Anybody that gets the chance to serve as vice president should consider that an honor,” said Rubio on Thursday on Blaze TV. “I’ve never spoken to President Trump or anybody on his campaign about this…”

There are, however, constitutional questions. The 12th Amendment prohibits electoral college electors from voting when a presidential and vice-presidential candidate are from the same state if both candidates on the ticket reside in the same state.

“If Rubio was interested, and he was asked, Rubio could give up his senate seat, move out of state, and the there would be no constitutional impediment to Trump and Rubio serving together,” UCF professor Aubrey Jewett said.

And let’s not forget about Florida Democrats. They’re outspent and outnumbered in the state compared with Republicans. But, they believe more national help is on the way.

“President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris understand that if you are going to protect democracy and fight back against extremism, especially on abortion, that you have to go to the belly of the beast, and that is here in the state of Florida,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said.

As far as Rubio is concerned, a same state ticket isn’t unheard of.

Back in 2000, Dick Cheney, a Texan, relocated to Wyoming just so he could run alongside former President George W. Bush.

Jewett added that there are addition factors for Rubio to consider. 

“Look at the guff list of people that served in the Trump administration that have gone down in flames, have been hammered by Trump or had ethical problems or just see their career in tatter or their reputation in tatters,” said Jewett. It’s a really long list.”

As the only remaining GOP primary candidate, Trump secured 81% of the Republican primary vote in Florida Tuesday against former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Hailey’s 13%. DeSantis, meanwhile, trailed in third place with less than 4%, though he and Hailey suspended their campaigns well before the Florida primary vote.