Former President Donald Trump has declared that it is "very unlikely" that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will be his running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Despite endorsing DeSantis in his first run for governor in 2018, Trump has since nicknamed him "Ron DeSanctimonious" and "Meatball Ron". Trump has also criticized DeSantis' record, claiming he is "bad on COVID" and has a poor record on Social Security, Medicare, and education. DeSantis has not yet announced his presidential candidacy, and some insiders are concerned that Trump's criticisms are taking a toll on public perception of the governor.

In addition, reports have emerged that anyone working for DeSantis' presidential campaign will be blackballed from working for Trump's campaign or in the White House. One Trump insider reportedly told RealClearPolitics that "it's a time for choosing". However, DeSantis has not been drawn into a public feud with Trump, instead focusing on achieving conservative victories in Florida. Critics have urged individuals to ignore Trump's attacks, pointing out that he cannot handle being ignored.