KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Here in 2018, at the Gaylord Palms Resort outside Orlando, is where Ron DeSantis began his path to becoming a leading presidential candidate.
Five years later, that same venue may be where it all started to fall apart.
DeSantis was running against Adam Putnam, a heavy favorite in the Florida gubernatorial race backed by the Republican establishment. Although Mr. Putnam was leading in the polls, Mr. DeSantis had just won the support of then-President Donald Trump, and the two were gathered at the Gaylord Palms Resort for a debate hosted by Fox News.
President Trump’s endorsement and what was seen as a solid debate performance that night in 2018 quickly elevated Mr. DeSantis ahead of Mr. Putnam and put him on the path to winning the Republican nomination for Florida governor. , ultimately setting the stage for a run for president in 2024. .
Fast forward about 5 years. The same hotel was the venue Saturday for the Florida Republican Party’s Freedom Summit, which DeSantis helped build and fund.
However, the party currently appears to be dominated by Trump. Trump has spent months bashing former politicians, giving him a huge lead over other candidates for the Republican presidential nomination.
Not only has DeSantis lost the presidential election, but he has also lost control of the grassroots base of the Florida Republican Party that helped him win re-election for the first time in decades just a year ago.
“I think there are many reasons why I support Mr. Trump, but the biggest reason is that I want to see him move his agenda forward for four uninterrupted years without having to worry about re-election.” said Samantha Murchy, 52, of New Port Richey, Florida.
That sentiment echoed throughout the convention hall throughout the day, until the moment Trump took the stage for his keynote address around 6:30 p.m.
“Exactly one year from tomorrow…you will be voting in the most important election in the history of this country,” President Trump said, while a crowd of people chanted “We love Trump.” A chorus of chants erupted. “We are going to finish the job we started.”
At the summit, a clear bias toward Trump was felt early and often.
Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, whose approval rating hovers around 1% in the presidential race, was the first speaker, saying that Trump would be “very likely” to be convicted of some of the 91 felonies he committed. He was booed and jeered after saying that he thought there was a possibility that The face is in four different locations.
As Hutchinson began to be jeered and booed, one member of the audience yelled, “Go home!”
Moments later, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has built a reputation as one of President Trump’s biggest Republican opponents, was booed from the start of his speech.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who endorsed Trump earlier this week, drew the loudest applause of his roughly 30-minute speech simply by mentioning his support for the former president.
Even the Saturday speaking schedule put together by his home state Republican Party seemed unfavorable to DeSantis. The governor was given a mid-afternoon speaking slot, and Trump delivered the keynote address. And between Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Trump on stage was a series of pro-Trump speakers, including Florida Reps. Byron Donald and Matt Gaetz, who have officially endorsed Mr. Trump.
DeSantis’ campaign was able to fill the venue with supporters just before his 1:30 p.m. speech. Focusing on the opening remarks made by his wife, Casey DeSantis, on behalf of her husband and the culture war battles that have defined DeSantis politically, DeSantis’ remarks began with a rebuke of President Trump using a teleprompter. The speech was met with loud cheers and cheers.
“Can we get rid of these teleprompters? … I don’t think we need teleprompters in Florida,” DeSantis said from the stage. “You have to speak from the heart.”
Some of DeSantis’ supporters came by bus for his speech. Although Mr. DeSantis had a strong presence when he took the stage, he was absent for most of the day, leaving an overwhelming sense that the day belonged to Mr. Trump.
Trump has a wide lead in most polls, with DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley roughly vying for second place. NBC News first reported Friday that Haley would not attend the event due to family reasons, leaving DeSantis the only candidate in attendance with any traction in the Republican primary, which is dominated by Trump.
DeSantis, like other candidates, met with reporters after signing eligibility forms to officially appear on Florida’s March 19 primary ballot. He said the fact that Trump’s team continues to attack Haley is evidence that Trump is a bigger threat than Haley.
“If you want to see Iowa, where is that state?” DeSantis said. “Look at how people act. And President Trump’s people aren’t attacking her. They’re demanding $1 million from me.”
The morning before the event, the Trump campaign also announced that seven Florida congressmen who had previously supported DeSantis had switched to supporting Trump. The move was expected, but it was a blow to Mr. DeSantis, who has had complete control of the state’s Republican infrastructure since taking office.
“This is what happens with these things,” DeSantis said of the flip. “There have been reversals in other states. It’s a dynamic thing. I mean, politicians do what they say they’re going to do. But when you step back and look around the country, you see states like Iowa and New Hampshire. I can tell you that I have far more support from state legislators than any other candidate.”
But with DeSantis and Haley vying for second place in the polls, Trump spent an hour on stage Saturday night captivating the audience in front of him, and the Republican presidential primary is all but over. Raised awareness even more.
“That’s why the number one phrase going around right now is…Trump is right about everything,” he said, to loud applause.