Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is aiming to fundraise $10 million for former President Donald Trump as part of an upcoming multi-state fundraising push, according to a DeSantis adviser and two sources familiar with the matter.
DeSantis will raise money for the super PAC Right for America, run by Trump ally Sergio Gor. Events are likely to begin in July and stretch through September, including states like Texas, California and Washington. Billionaire and former Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter is one of the PAC’s largest donors.
Perlmutter, DeSantis and a group of DeSantis donors gathered last Thursday, where Trump joined for a phone call, and they discussed the fundraising efforts, according to one person present. It lasted about 10 minutes.
Once 2024 rivals in a bitter primary, the source said Trump and DeSantis picked at each other about their golf game and a little bit about the campaign. The pair chatted about courses they were playing. Characterizing the conversation as jovial and moving forward, the source said it was “Trump being Trump.”
“It sounded like it was 2019 again,” the source said.
They also said Trump asked DeSantis to help with Right for America, and DeSantis said he would.
Another source in the room on the call told CNN, “The conversation was very friendly and warm. They discussed golf and made small talk. The governor told the former president that he raised more money than any other politician in 2020, and he will do the same in 2024. Trump thanked DeSantis and told him it was great to have him back in the fold. The president was very appreciative and governor steadfast in his show of support.”
DeSantis and Trump spoke over the phone at least two times since they had a meeting in Florida last month, according to the two sources in the room for the call.
NBC News was first to report.
CNN’s Kristen Holmes contributed reporting
