In a sign DeSantis was not proving a threat to Trump, the Republican Party of Florida voted in September 2023 not to require participants in the state’s 2024 presidential primary to pledge to support the eventual nominee, which ensured Trump would not have to pledge support to DeSantis when the two were locked in a bitter campaign.

Florida lawmakers defied DeSantis and approved their own version of sweeping immigration reforms amid a GOP power struggle.

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget would direct $505 million to the state Division of Emergency Management for immigration enforcement and earmark another $4.4 million to set up a “special immigration unit” within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission “to immediately assist the federal administration’s enforcement of illegal immigration.

Gov. Ron DeSantis attempted to salve the intense enmity that has grown in recent weeks between himself and Florida legislative Republicans over the issue of illegal immigration in public remarks he made on Monday morning.