Ron DeSantis is now expected to speak at the Republican National Convention, says AP source

Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis is now planning to address the issue of former President Donald Trump naming convention next week, an apparent reversal from the day before, when he was expected not to give a speech.

DeSantis’ speech at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee was confirmed Wednesday by a person familiar with the schedule, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the schedule has not yet been released.

After the allies turned rivals during this year’s Republican primaries, Trump and DeSantis tried to reach a detente that would benefit both. But there are lingering tensions between their camps — and long memories in Trump’s orbit about the dangers of elevating a former primary opponent to the convention stage.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, who ran against Trump in a similarly tight Republican race eight years ago, famously gave a speech at the 2016 Republican convention in which he refused to support Trump by name and instead told voters to follow their consciences. Cruz left the stage to a chorus of boos.

But DeSantis quickly endorsed Trump by name after finishing a distant second to him in Iowa. DeSantis’ aides said they were repeatedly told he would have a speaking role and had no reason to believe he would not, although they were unable to confirm a speaking slot Wednesday.

NBC News first reported that DeSantis would be on the RNC schedule.

DeSantis was already planning to be in Milwaukee during the convention, and was planning to headline a Moms for Liberty town hall event and is scheduled to appear with other governors at the “Southern States Fest” at American Family Field.

Since February, Trump has taken control of every aspect of the Republican National Committee and the convention, installing his top lieutenants in the party leadership, rewriting the party platform and closely scrutinizing who will speak.

Allowing DeSantis a place to speak demonstrates how far the two have come since last year, when Trump mocked his opponent as “DeSanctimonious” and the Florida governor campaigned against the former president for failing to deliver on top priorities.

DeSantis has headlined fundraisers in Fort Lauderdale and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for Trump’s candidacy, and is scheduling events in September in Texas.

Trump called into the Fort Lauderdale event in May, where DeSantis and his top fundraisers spent the day contacting his top donors, praising DeSantis, saying “Ron, I love that you’re back,” according to people in attendance.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who remained in the race against Trump until March, was not invited to speak in Milwaukee, although she has said she will vote for Trump and has moved to free delegates she won to support Trump at the convention.

In a radio interview Wednesday morning, Trump drew a distinction between his two former rivals.

“You know, there was a lot of bad blood there,” he said of Haley, his former UN ambassador. “She stayed a long time. She was getting beaten everywhere, but she just wouldn’t go away.”

DeSantis, on the other hand, ended his campaign and endorsed Trump shortly after losing his first primary.

“He left after Iowa because he said there was no way to win,” he told Fox News Radio.

He also rejected the idea that reconciliation with Haley could help him win over moderate voters. Some continued to support her even after she ended her candidacy.

“No. They’re not going to vote for Biden,” he said. “They’re going to vote for Trump.”

___

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report. Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.