Ron DeSantis Denies Reports of 2028 Presidential Campaign Plans

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis categorically denied reports from The Washington Post claiming he is preparing for a 2028 presidential campaign. On social media, DeSantis accused the newspaper of fabricating the story "out of whole cloth" and described the report as a "pathetic attempt to garner clicks" based on anonymous sources.

The Washington Post cited three sources and a fundraising text from a tied super PAC to suggest DeSantis had already contacted a national political consultant. These reports position DeSantis as a potential pro-Israel alternative to Vice President JD Vance for the Republican nomination. DeSantis countered these claims by stating he has not contacted anyone regarding a run for any office.

These developments follow the November 3 midterm elections, where Democrats won control of Congress. While DeSantis characterized the national results as "close to an extinction-level event for Republicans," Florida remained a GOP stronghold. Separately, CBS News reported that President Donald Trump may be considering DeSantis to replace Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon after the governor's term expires on January 5, though neither the White House nor DeSantis has confirmed the possibility.