Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded sharply on Friday to a news report suggesting he is already laying the groundwork for another presidential bid in 2028. The governor accused The Washington Post of inventing details about his early campaign preparations, specifically the claim that he has begun contacting political consultants.
In a series of posts on the social media platform X, DeSantis asserted that the newspaper was creating a story from scratch. He stated, "The Washington Post is fabricating this out of whole cloth," and emphasized that he has not reached out to anyone regarding a potential run for office. He characterized the report as a desperate effort to generate online traffic, noting the reliance on anonymous sources.
The Washington Post published its report on Friday, citing three individuals who were briefed on the governor's plans. According to the newspaper, DeSantis has already contacted at least one national political consultant to discuss a prospective campaign. The report also noted that a federal super PAC associated with DeSantis distributed a fundraising text message earlier in the week.
DeSantis continued to engage with critics and supporters on social media to further distance himself from the narrative. When a user expressed hope that the reporting was accurate, the governor replied that he was sorry to disappoint. He also addressed a suggestion that consultants might be using his name for publicity, writing, "Probably the case. But maybe just made up by WaPo."
This debate over DeSantis's political future occurs shortly after the midterm elections, in which Republicans suffered significant losses. The party lost control of both chambers of Congress and several traditional strongholds, marking a challenging period for the GOP nationally.
Despite these national setbacks, Florida remained a stronghold for the Republican Party. Byron Donalds won the governor's race in the state, providing a notable victory for the party in a key swing state.
DeSantis offered a stark assessment of the party's position following the elections. Speaking on Wednesday, he described the results as close to an extinction-level event for Republicans. He warned that among the ten most populous states in the nation, Florida would likely be the only one with Republican control of its government.
The governor had previously sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He suspended his campaign in January of that year after the Iowa caucuses and subsequently endorsed Donald Trump. As he prepares to leave office in January, DeSantis has kept the door open for future presidential ambitions.
Fox News Digital has reached out to both DeSantis's office and The Washington Post for comment regarding the conflicting accounts. The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between the governor's team and national media outlets as the political landscape shifts following the midterms.
