Trump has nominated Rubio to serve as his secretary of state, giving DeSantis the authority to appoint someone to fill Rubio’s Senate seat until an election can be held in 2026. Speculation about the appointment intensified after Lara Trump recently announced her resignation as co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, sparking rumors that she is aiming for the Senate seat.
“I would say that my track record speaks for itself. Maybe having the last name Trump is just a little bit extra,” Lara Trump said Sunday on Fox News. “I’m always happy to have it.”
Lara Trump and her husband, Eric Trump, moved to Florida about three years ago after Donald Trump left office. This isn’t her first consideration of a political run—she previously contemplated a Senate bid while living in North Carolina.
Lara Trump has secured the backing of Elon Musk, who has remained closely aligned with Donald Trump since the election. However, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance has not yet commented on the matter.
DeSantis and Donald Trump had a tense relationship earlier this year during DeSantis’s presidential campaign. The two exchanged sharp criticisms, with DeSantis frequently pointing to Trump’s legal troubles and Trump attacking DeSantis’s personality. Despite this, they reconciled in the spring following a private meeting.
Trump is also reportedly considering DeSantis for the role of secretary of defense, should former Fox News host Pete Hegseth—Trump’s current top pick—fail to secure Senate confirmation due to allegations involving misconduct and ties to Christian nationalism.
Both Trump and DeSantis are scheduled to attend the Army-Navy football game this weekend, where Hegseth is also expected to appear, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Insiders close to DeSantis have expressed concerns about the optics of appointing Lara Trump, given the number of Florida Republicans interested in the seat. Critics note that she has never held elected office and is a relatively recent resident of the state.
DeSantis has announced he will make his decision in January.
