President Trump Applauds Major Move By DeSantis: ‘Hopefully Other Governors Will Follow!’

Although they were rivals during the 2024 GOP presidential primary, President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have found plenty of common ground ahead of Trump’s second inauguration.

One major focus for both Republican leaders has been the crisis, and DeSantis recently announced a significant effort to stem the tide of illegal immigrants into his state.

The move received praise from Trump, as the Daily Wire reported:

President-elect Donald Trump praised Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday for calling an emergency special session so Florida could getting funding lined up so the state is ready to implement Trump’s agenda shortly after he takes office.

DeSantis noted in a statement announcing the special session that Trump was elected “with a mandate to stop illegal immigration and deport illegal aliens already in our country.”

“State and local officials in Florida will actively facilitate the Trump Administration’s policies against illegal immigration, and to do that we need to immediately set aside and approve the necessary funding and resources now,” DeSantis said. “As part of the special session I called for January 27, the week after President Trump is sworn in, I am calling on the legislature to appropriate funding for detention, relocation, transportation infrastructure, local law enforcement support, and everything else needed for Florida to carry out this mission.”

Trump responded to the announcement: “Thank you Ron, hopefully other Governors will follow!”

The special session also attracted significant support on social media:

This guy is holding a special session to make sure Florida’s illegal immigration problem gets solved. DeSantis never makes excuses he just gets it done. I wish every state had a Governor like him. pic.twitter.com/g8YldYbfBL

— Jill Anthony (@JillSAnthony) January 13, 2025

🚨 JUST IN: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has just released his plan to carry out President Trump's MASS DEPORTATIONS after Jan. 20 in the special session.

Here it is. Holy cow.

Basically every deterrent and authority you can think of. Trump has an ally in Florida. Other states… pic.twitter.com/4J5tF9iAAA

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 15, 2025

LISTEN:

Florida State Senator Badass @GovGoneWild gives @realJennaEllis a Sneak Preview of @GovRonDeSantis Special Session for Florida to be locked and loaded on Day 1 of Trumps EOs to combat illegal immigration pic.twitter.com/cWxrrJWahN

— DeSantis Appreciation Society (@KickboxerEsq) January 15, 2025

Trump and DeSantis also made headlines recently after they went golfing together amid an ongoing search to replace Sen. Marco Rubio (R-TX), Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of State.

According to The Hill:

A number of names have been floated for the post, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R), Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez (R) and the governor’s chief of staff James Uthmeier. Sources familiar with the discussions say Moody is considered the front-runner for the position.

DeSantis is expected to decide around the time of Trump’s inauguration. Rubio is one of several Trump nominees who have confirmation hearings scheduled for Wednesday.

The golf summit also follows DeSantis’s move to call for a special state legislative session on Jan. 27 to implement Trump’s immigration agenda.

Here’s how DeSantis described the golf outing with Trump:

NEW: Gov. @RonDeSantis REVEALS he golfed with Donald Trump Tuesday as his partner and his team took the win. #DanaRadio pic.twitter.com/X9cOeFEckf

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) January 15, 2025