Trump downplays possibility of DeSantis appointing Lara Trump to the Senate

President-elect Donald Trump said Monday that he doesn’t expect Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to the Senate.

The seat in Florida will soon be vacant because Trump has chosen Republican Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of State. Trump had discussed the possibility with DeSantis that he pick Lara Trump to fill the seat, but he told reporters Monday at Mar-a-Lago that he “probably” didn’t expect that.

“I don’t. I probably don’t, but I don’t know,” he said when asked if he expected DeSantis to appoint her. “Ron is doing a good job. It is his choice, nothing to do with me.”

POLITICO previously reported that DeSantis was considering several options for the seat, including Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody or former Florida House Speaker José Oliva. The governor announced over social media that he was vetting candidates and interviewing them, with a selection “likely made by the beginning of January.” The formal confirmation process for Rubio won’t begin until after Trump is sworn into office.

Trump’s biggest supporters on social media — and a few in the Senate, including Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) — have been pushing for DeSantis to appoint Lara Trump, who has been a Florida resident for 3.5 years and was co-chair of the Republican National Committee. She has said during media interviews that she would be interested in the job, and recently resigned from her RNC role. But on Monday, Trump noted his daughter-in-law was also being recruited for television jobs as well. “She’s got so many other things that she’s talking about,” he said. “He’ll make the right decision.”

Trump and DeSantis spoke a couple of weeks ago when they both attended a memorial for state deputies who were killed in a crash. On Monday, he called his daughter-in-law “unbelievable” and “incredible,” citing her work at RNC with chair Michael Whatley, who is staying on in the role.

“She is so highly respected by women,” Trump said. “I mean, even her workout routines are through the roof. She lifts 150 pounds. I don’t know how the hell she does it. She is a bad example for men and women because I wouldn’t be able to beat her, I don’t believe. I would try like hell.”