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    Trump Says GOP Has a ‘Good Bench’ for 2028—But Won’t Name a Successor Yet

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    President Trump says Republicans are well-positioned for the future—and that the party has a deep lineup of potential leaders ready to carry the America First agenda into 2028.

    In an interview airing Wednesday night on NewsNation’s “Katie Pavlich Tonight,” Trump was asked whether he sees a clear successor who could continue his legacy in the White House.

    “I hope so,” Trump said. “And we certainly have a good bench. We have some very talented people.”

    While the president acknowledged he has early favorites, he declined to name any one candidate this far out.

    “I do, but it’s so early,” Trump told Pavlich. “I don’t like to [say].”

    Trump Highlights Key Leaders Driving the Agenda

    When pressed for names, Trump pointed to the strength of his administration and the results his team is delivering—especially on issues central to Republican voters, including border security, economic recovery, and restoring America’s standing abroad.

    “Look, we have great people,” Trump said. “I’m not just talking about one or two—we have so many great people.”

    Asked again who specifically stood out, Trump singled out several of the most prominent figures in his circle:

    • Vice President JD Vance, whom Trump credited with strong leadership and loyalty to the MAGA coalition
    • Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a familiar and experienced voice on foreign policy
    • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has been a key figure in Trump’s economic team

    Trump also praised officials leading the administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration and security efforts:

    • Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar and a longtime advocate of tougher enforcement
    • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has taken a visible role in administration security priorities

    “I could name 20 people that are phenomenal,” Trump added.

    A Sign of Confidence—and a Message to Voters

    Trump’s remarks are being read by many Republicans as a clear message: the GOP is not just a one-man movement. While Trump remains the dominant figure in conservative politics, his comments suggest the broader America First bench is expanding—a sign of stability and staying power for the party beyond any single election cycle.

    In recent years, Republican voters have increasingly prioritized candidates who will:

    • fight the administrative state rather than manage it
    • take border enforcement seriously
    • resist “forever war” foreign policy
    • challenge corporate-media narratives instead of courting them

    Trump’s list reflects that shift and highlights Republicans who have gained credibility with the base through real governance and public-facing leadership.

    Midterms: Republicans Eye a Comeback in 2026

    The comments come as Republicans begin gearing up for the 2026 midterms following setbacks in last year’s elections. Democrats and their allied media have tried to portray those results as a long-term trend—yet history suggests otherwise.

    Trump himself addressed the challenge in an earlier Fox News interview, noting that the party in power “always loses” seats in midterm elections. That pattern has been true for decades and reflects voter turnout dynamics and backlash politics more than any permanent realignment.

    A new Emerson College poll shows Democrats leading a hypothetical generic ballot matchup at 48.1% to 41.7%, with 10.2% undecided. But Republicans caution that early polling—especially this far from Election Day—often fails to capture likely-voter turnout, local issues, and late-breaking shifts that typically determine midterms.

    Bottom Line

    Trump may not be naming a successor yet, but he’s signaling something important: the Republican Party has depth, talent, and rising leaders ready to keep building on the movement voters started in 2016.

    For Republicans focused on winning in 2026—and holding the line against Democrats’ spending agenda, cultural policies, and bureaucratic overreach—Trump’s message was simple: the team is strong, and the fight isn’t slowing down.

    Georgia Man Arrested Over Alleged Threats To Kill Tulsi Gabbard

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    FBI agents arrested a Georgia man after making numerous death threats against Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.

    Aliakbar Mohammad Amin, of Lilburn, Ga., was charged on Friday with “transmitting interstate threats to injure” Gabbard and her family, according to the DOJ press release.

    “Threatening to harm public officials is a criminal act that cannot be excused as political discourse,” acting U.S. Attorney Richard Moultrie, Jr. said in a statement. “Our Office, in coordination with our law enforcement partners, will vigorously prosecute individuals who commit these acts of violence.”

    Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

    Prosecutors allege Amin sent text messages between March 29 and April 1 that contained threats against Gabbard and her husband, including, “You and your family are going to die soon,” and “I will personally do the job if necessary.”

    “The home you two own . . . is a legitimate target and will be hit at a time and place of our choosing,” Amin wrote in another text, according to the DOJ.

    Other texts allegedly included, “Prepare to die, you, Tulsi, and everyone you hold dear. America will burn,” and “Death to America means death to America literally, Tulsi is living on borrowed time.”

    Federal agents later found a firearm at Amin’s house while executing a search warrant, the DOJ said.

    “The FBI sees all threatening communications as a serious federal offense. We will employ every investigative tool and resource available to identify those responsible and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Paul Brown, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Office, said in a statement.

    “Let this arrest serve as a clear warning: if you engage in this kind of criminal behavior, you will be caught and you will go to prison,” Brown added.

    Gabbard thanked the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement on Friday after the FBI announced the arrest.

    “Thank you @FBI, @USMarshalsHQ, and local law enforcement for your service and dedication in apprehending this radicalized, dangerous criminal who repeatedly threatened the lives of me, my family, and @realDonaldTrump. Thank you for your tireless work every day keeping the American people safe,” she wrote in a post on X.

    Threats against political officials have been on the rise, during the 2024 campaign cycle Donald Trump survived multiple assassination attempts.

    A recent study by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) has revealed a concerning trend: a significant portion of left-leaning Americans believe that political violence, including assassination, is justifiable against figures such as President Donald Trump and the de facto head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk. The study surveyed over 1,200 U.S. adults and found that 38% of respondents felt that assassinating Trump would be at least “somewhat justified,” with this figure rising to 55% among those identifying as left-leaning. Similarly, 31% of overall participants, and 48% of left-leaning individuals, expressed some level of justification for assassinating Musk.

    This data suggests a troubling normalization of violent political rhetoric within certain segments of the population. The NCRI report highlights that this shift has been particularly pronounced following the December 2024 assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly by Luigi Mangione. Mangione’s actions have been glamorized in various online communities, leading to a proliferation of memes and discussions that endorse political violence.

    Screenshot via X [Credit: Elon Musk]

    Trump Asks Judge To Dismiss Hush Money Case

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4

    Trump lawyers called for an “immediate dismissal” of New York v. Trump on Wednesday, saying the American people’s choice to elect the former president to a second term “supersedes” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s “political motivations.”

    In a letter to Judge Juan Merchan on Wednesday, Trump defense attorney and now-nominee for Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche demanded the case against the president-elect be tossed. 

    “On November 5, 2024, the Nation’s People issued a mandate that supersedes the political motivations of DANY’s ‘People,’” Blanche wrote. “This case must be immediately dismissed.” 

    Blanche said that “immediate dismissal of this case is mandated by the federal Constitution, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963, and the interests of justice, in order to facilitate the orderly transition of Executive power following President Trump’s overwhelming victory in the 2024 Presidential Election.” 

    Blanche’s pre-motion letter Wednesday was sent in order to request permission to file a motion to dismiss by Dec. 20, 2024 and to request a stay on all deadlines, which Bragg and New York prosecutors have agreed to. 

    Blanche argued that Bragg “appears to not yet be ready to dismiss this politically-motivated and fatally flawed case, which is what is mandated by the law and will happen as justice takes its course.” Blanche pointed to Bragg’s own election campaign for another term as Manhattan DA. 

    Blanche argued that “continuing with this case would be ‘uniquely destabilizing’ and threatens to ‘hamstring the operation of the whole governmental apparatus, both in foreign and domestic affairs.’” 

    “The Court must address these new issues and dismiss the case, prior to issuing a decision on the previously filed Presidential immunity motion,” Blanche explained. “Any other action would obviously violate the presidential immunity doctrine and the Supremacy Clause.” 

    The letter comes after Bragg on Tuesday sent a letter to Merchan requesting a stay on the case until 2029. Bragg said he would oppose Trump’s motion to dismiss, but said he would be open to receiving the defense argument. 

    Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree stemming from the years-long investigation related to alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

    Trump Assassination Attempt 911 Calls Released

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    Months after a 20-year-old gunman attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, Butler County officials have released 911 calls from that day.

    One redacted call came from the wife of a 74-year-old shooting victim from Moon Township, telling police her husband was shot at the rally, but she does not know what hospital he was transported to. James Copenhaver, a 74-year-old man from Moon Township, was shot and critically wounded at the rally.

    “Paramedics serviced him. I called Butler Hospital. He’s not there. They told me to call 911,” the woman can be heard telling a dispatcher.

    The dispatcher tells her to stay on the line and not hang up.

    “I won’t,” she says.

    Other 911 calls released by Butler County give more insight into the moment gunman Thomas Crooks fired approximately eight times, nicking Trump in the ear, killing Corey Comperatore, and injuring Copenhaver and another man named David Dutch.

    “We’re at the Butler Farm Show. We need assistance now,” says another.

    “We’re at the Trump assembly, and there’s a guy shooting,” another caller can be heard telling dispatchers.

    Listen to the chilling audio below:

    The calls reveal a chaotic scene after shots rang out at the rally, with attendees unaware whether the shooter was an active threat to those attending the event.

    Investigation revealed that Crooks had accessed the roof of a nearby building by climbing HVAC equipment and piping on the side of the building, which was outside the official perimeters of the rally but less than 200 yards from where Trump was speaking on stage.

    A local officer with Butler County identified where the shots were coming from, located the shooter, and fired one round at Crooks with his rifle, “which caused the shooter to recoil and briefly fall out of sight,” Adams Township Police Department Sgt. Edward Lenz testified in September.

    A Secret Service counter sniper then fired the fatal shot that neutralized Crooks on the roof of the AGR building, where he was perched with a direct line of sight to Trump.

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    Trump Sports Garbage Uniform For Critical Rally After Biden Barb

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    2
    Donald Trump via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    In true Trump fashion…

    On Wednesday, Donald Trump arrived to his rally in Green Bay, Wisconsin in a garbage truck and matching vest after President Joe Biden called Trump supporters “garbage.”

    Trump explained that his decision to arrive at the rally in a dump truck, dressed in a garbage vest, was made spur of the moment. He joked that the vest made him look thinner and quipped that the vest could become part of his everyday attire. 

    “When they said I’d look thinner, I said in that case, I’ll wear it onstage,” he joked. “I may never wear a blue jacket again.”  

    He criticized Biden, Democrats, and most especially his opponent Vice-president Kamala Harris for “running a campaign of hate, vitriol and retribution.”

    “This week Kamala has been comparing her political opponents to the most evil mass murderers in history and now speaking on a call for her campaign last night crooked Joe Biden finally said what he and Kamala really think of our supporters, he called them ‘garbage,” he said.

    Referencing Hillary Clinton’s 2016 comments calling his supporters “deplorables,” he said that Biden’s remark “blows deplorables out of the water.”

    “My response to Joe and Kamala is very simple: You can’t lead America if you don’t love Americans, it’s true. You can’t be president if you hate the American people, which I believe they do, and Kamala Harris is not fit to be president of the United States,” he said. 

    Trump went on to emphasize himself as a unity candidate, uniting people of every race, creed and economic status.

    “Kamala and Joe call all of us, and them, even them, ‘garbage.’ I call you the heart and soul of America. You are the heart and soul, you built our country, you built it,” he said. “And by the way I want to thank all our sanitation workers all across America because they work hard, they really do work hard and they do an incredible job, and they don’t get the credit they deserve.”

    Report: Sidney Powell Pleads Guilty In Georgia Election Interference Case

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    Tom Williams, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell pled guilty in the Georgia election subversion case brought forward by Fulton County DA Fani Willis.

    Per reports from The Hill, Powell appeared before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee on Thursday to enter her plea, just days before her trial was scheduled to begin next week.

    “How do you plead to the six counts of conspiracy to commit intentional interference with performance of election duties?” asked Daysha Young, a Fulton County prosecutor. 

    “Guilty,” Powell said. 

    McAfee accepted Powell’s plea and said that she could not withdraw it. Powell was sentenced to six years’ probation, a $6,000 fine and $2,700 restitution. She will also be required to “testify truthfully” in future proceedings and must turn over any documents requested by the district attorney’s office.  

    CNN’s Marshall Cohen reports that as part of her guilty plea, Powell will be required to testify at future trials and write an apology letter to the citizens of Georgia, prosecutors said at a hearing Thursday.”

    Powell is the second of 19 co-defendants in the case to plead guilty. 

    Powell was indicted on seven charges in August, accusing her and the others of violating Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act statute by entering a months-long conspiracy to try to keep Donald Trump in the White House following the 2020 election. 

    This is a breaking news story. Click refresh for the latest updates.

    Matt Gaetz To Launch Show On One America News Next Year

    By
    Patrick Houck
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    2
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz (R) is set to debut his own program, The Matt Gaetz Show, on One America News (OAN) starting January 2025 and airing weeknights at 9 p.m.

    The announcement follows Gaetz’s decision earlier this year to step away from Congress, a choice he explained during a recent appearance on The Charlie Kirk Show. Gaetz, who served in the House of Representatives since winning his first election in 2016, stated, “I think that eight years is probably enough time in the United States Congress,” underscoring his desire to prioritize his family and his role in supporting President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

    Tuesday’s development marks a significant career shift for Gaetz, who had previously been considered for attorney general in the incoming Trump administration. That opportunity, however, did not materialize, prompting speculation about whether he might return to Capitol Hill. Gaetz put such rumors to rest last month when he reaffirmed his intention to focus on media opportunities and other ways to assist the Trump White House outside of Congress.

    Gaetz’s new show is expected to cover a range of conservative topics, including policy discussions and commentary on the Trump administration’s agenda.

    Politico has additional details:

    It is yet another high-profile, public platform for Gaetz, a firebrand Republican who made no shortage of enemies in the House before President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to nominate him to be attorney general. Gaetz immediately resigned from the House after Trump’s announcement, a move that also came just before the House Ethics Committee planned to meet regarding a probe into allegations against him regarding illegal drug use and sex with a 17-year-old.

    Gaetz has consistently denied the allegations and a Department of Justice investigation into him resulted in no charges. But the accusations quickly dogged his confirmation process, prompting him to drop out of consideration one week after Trump first announced plans to nominate him. The early withdrawal precluded what would have been a deeply personal and brutal confirmation hearing.

    At OAN, Gaetz will also co-host a video podcast with Dan Ball, host of “Real America with Dan Ball,” that the network said would feature “unfiltered conversations” for Gen Z, Millennials and early Gen Xers.

    Gaetz praised the network in a statement for embracing platforms like streaming, apps, podcasts and social media, which he called places “where Americans are going.” Trump during his 2024 run similarly embraced alternative media sources to reach voters.

    Known for its strong conservative viewpoints, OAN has been steadily expanding its roster of opinion-driven programming, and Gaetz’s high-profile presence is likely to attract loyal viewers from his political base and other cable news networks.

    READ NEXT: New Health Scare? Medics Rush To Treat Top Republican Senator

    New Jersey Governor Declares War On Trump Admin.

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    4
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    Despite Donald Trump’s landslide victory, Democrat Governors are already planning ways to hinder the incoming administration.

    In a Q&A following President-elect Trump’s victory, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy warned he will “fight to the death” against the administration if he detects behavior “contrary to our values.”

    “[A]s we respect the peaceful transition of power, if there is any attack on the Garden State or any of its communities from Washington, I will fight back with every fiber of my being,” Murphy said.

    “If there’s an opportunity for common ground, we will seize that as fast as anybody,” he conversely added. 

    Watch:

    State Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown) told Fox News Digital that Murphy is “missing the message” voters sent Tuesday with the initial rhetoric.

    “It’s time for the governor to recognize that his values may not reflect the values of New Jerseyans as widely as he assumes,” he said.

    “While Murphy is prepared to spend resources on political battles with Trump, it’s hard to see how that aligns with the priorities of struggling families, working taxpayers and business owners who want more focus on their needs,” DiMaio said.

    Trump Calls Greene A ‘Traitor’ Amid Fight For Epstein File Transparency

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    5
    Photo via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    President Trump pushed back Sunday evening against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) warnings about her personal safety, escalating an already tense dispute within the GOP over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. Speaking to reporters on the tarmac before departing Palm Beach, Fla., the president reiterated his criticism of Greene, again referring to the outspoken conservative as a “traitor” when asked about her claim that Trump’s rhetoric could endanger her life.

    “Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene,” Trump said, correcting a reporter who used the congresswoman’s actual name. “I don’t think her life is in danger. I don’t think — frankly, I don’t think anybody cares about her.”

    A short time later, Trump doubled down on Truth Social, taking aim at Greene as tensions continue to rise over her calls for the full release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Wacky Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Brown (Remember, Green turns to Brown where there is ROT involved!) is working overtime to try and portray herself as a victim when, in actuality, she is the cause of all of her own problems,” Trump wrote. “The fact is, nobody cares about this Traitor to our Country!”

    Greene, who has long portrayed herself as one of Trump’s staunchest allies, had posted earlier on X that “the hoax pizza deliveries have started now, to my house and family members,” and said her family’s construction business had received a pipe bomb threat. She argued that Trump’s attacks on her were “a dog whistle to dangerous radicals that could lead to serious attacks on me and my family.”

    Responding to Trump labeling her a traitor, Greene wrote that the accusation is “absolutely untrue and horrific” and said such language “puts blood in the water and creates a feeding frenzy. And it could ultimately lead to a harmful or even deadly outcome.”

    “I am not a traitor,” she insisted. “However, when the President of the United States irresponsibly calls a Member of Congress of his own party, traitor, he is signaling what must be done to a traitor.”

    Watch:

    Greene defended her record and her long-standing loyalty to Trump. “I fought harder than anyone to help President Trump get elected and I support his administration and the promises we made on the campaign,” she wrote. “My voting record is one of the most conservative voting records in Congress and I’m very proud of that. The toxic and dangerous rhetoric in politics must end and we need healing in this country for all Americans.”

    The dispute comes as Greene has intensified her criticism of Trump’s earlier reluctance to endorse the full release of the Epstein files—documents many Republicans argue should be made public to expose potential wrongdoing and eliminate politically motivated speculation. The House is expected to vote this week on a measure compelling the Department of Justice to release those records. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who initiated the discharge petition to force the vote, said he expects significant Republican support.

    By Ralph Alswang, White House photographer – https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/clinton-epstein-maxwell/, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143417695

    Republican pressure on Trump increased last week after Democrats selectively released new emails, including one allegedly written by Epstein claiming Trump “knew about the girls.” Many conservatives view the move as a partisan attempt to smear Trump and distract from Democratic figures who were associated with Epstein. In response, and just minutes before his latest Truth Social post criticizing Greene, Trump urged House Republicans to back full transparency.

    Lawmakers “should vote to release the Epstein files,” Trump said, arguing, “we have nothing to hide, and it’s time to move on from this Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics in order to deflect from the Great Success of the Republican Party.”

    Still, Massie cautioned that the Justice Department—now conducting new probes into Epstein’s alleged connections to Democrats—might use those investigations to justify withholding certain materials even after Congress acts. Republicans warn that bureaucratic resistance could undermine the effort for full disclosure, a point fueling frustration both inside and outside the party.

    Time’s almost up! Don’t miss your chance to join the MAGA Advisory Board — accept your invitation before 9:30 PM TONIGHT!

    DeSantis Jabs Trump-Endorsed Politician Amid Rumors His Wife Is Mounting Gubernatorial Bid

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    Ron DeSantis via Gage Skidmore Flickr

    The race to succeed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is already heating up…

    Days after President Trump issued a preemptive endorsement of Rep. Byron Donalds for governor DeSantis seemingly took an underhanded jab at the Congressman amid rumors his own wife, Casey DeSantis is planning a run for the office.

    Speaking on Monday, the Florida governor reportedly snubbed Donalds for having spent time outside the state.

    “Byron hasn’t hasn’t been a part of any of the victories that we’ve had here over the Left over these last years. He’s been in other states campaigning,” DeSantis said during a presser, according to Floridian Press reporter Liv Caputo.

    In response to questions from reporters, DeSantis continued to praise his wife as a potential candidate, arguing “She would do better than me. She has the dedication to conservative principles – anything we’ve accomplished, she’d be able to take to the next level.”

    In a Thursday night Truth Social post, Trump gave Donalds his “Complete and Total Endorsement” if he decides to run, promising the congressman would have a “BIG Voice” in pushing the MAGA agenda. (RELATED: Trump Preemptively Endorses Byron Donalds For Florida Governor)

    “Byron would have a BIG Voice, and would work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda,” Trump wrote. “He will fight tirelessly to Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military, Protect our Vets, Restore our Economic Power, Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”

    “RUN, BYRON, RUN!” the president added.

    According to a new poll about potential gubernatorial candidates by The University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL) 57% of Republicans had a favorable opinion of Casey DeSantis – a higher rating than other names floated as possible candidates. 

    “Casey DeSantis was the top early pick for potential Republican primary candidates when we asked back in late 2023, albeit with only 22% support,” said Dr. Michael Binder, PORL faculty director and professor of political science. 

    Overall, 30% of respondents were favorable of the first lady, 22% unfavorable and 33% had never heard of her, according to the poll, which was conducted from Feb. 5–14.

    “She likely enjoys some favorability by association as Florida’s first lady,” Binder added, “but most of these potential candidates suffer from a lack of recognition—some suffering more than others. That said, I expect we’ll see a few of them become household names by the time the August 2026 primary rolls around.”

    The other speculative gubernatorial candidates included in the poll’s question included former Rep. Matt Gaetz, Sen. Ashley Moody, Rep. Byron Donalds and Florida commissioner of agriculture Wilton Simpson.

    Most respondents said they never heard of Moody (54%), Donalds (66%) and Simpson (79%), though those familiar with them found Moody and Donalds more favorable than unfavorable, and Simpson was split at 4% in both categories, the poll found.

    Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously shot down rumors surrounding a potential bid for office from his wife. 

    “If I had to characterize her interest in getting into the political thicket as a candidate, I would say, I would characterize it as zero,” DeSantis told reporters in May. “But, you know, I think it’s because she has had a front row seat on all the nonsense that goes on when you do it.”

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