Will Ron DeSantis help Donald Trump's 2024 campaign? The Republicans met privately in Florida

Former President Donald Trump met privately Sunday with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Miami to discuss how the latter can help with the 2024 presidential campaign, according to a person familiar with the meeting.

DeSantis ultimately agreed to aid the former president, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the meeting. The gathering came as a surprise as Trump and DeSantis have had an icy relationship since the governor launched his failed presidential bid.

After the DeSantis withdrew from the 2024 race in January, Trump and aides said they hoped to tap the governor’s fundraising operation for help in the general election. Before his presidential bid plateaued, DeSantis was seen as a prolific fundraiser and popular governor who seemed positioned to try to take the GOP into a post-Trump era.

But it wasn't clear the Republican governor would sign on to help Trump's reelection bid. Though he endorsed the former president after dropping out of the 2024 race, Trump and DeSantis at times had a bitter rivalry.

The former president branded the Florida governor "DeSanctimonious" and other highly personal terms, but DeSantis spent most of his campaign being careful about hitting Trump back as he sought the GOP nomination.

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While DeSantis hit harder toward the end of his campaign, he ultimately told his supporters "It's clear to me that a majority of Republican voters want to give Donald Trump another chance."

But despite the back-and-forth between the two Republicans, DeSantis did discuss helping Trump on Sunday, potentially granting the president access to a wide network in Florida and across the country as he needs funding for his campaign and sweeping legal bills.

President Joe Biden is currently dominating Trump in 2024 fundraising. In March, Biden and Democrats reported having more than twice as much money on hand than Trump and Republicans.

And Trump is currently facing a cash crunch while has faces four criminal trials and a pair of large financial judgments after losing two civil lawsuits. He posted a $91.6 million bond in a defamation case brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, and a $175 million bond in a fraud case involving falsifying business records. 

But as speculation grows about Trump's potential 2024 running mate, the Sunday meeting between Trump and DeSantis probably won't point to this year's Republican ticket.

Trump aides have said that DeSantis is an unlikely vice president pick, especially after the Florida governor questioned Trump’s criteria for selection of a running mate.

“Ron DeSantis failed miserably in his presidential campaign and does not have a voice in selecting the next Vice President of the United States," said Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt back in February.

Contributing: Karissa Waddick and Zac Anderson, USA TODAY