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President-elect Donald Trump downplayed speculation that his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, might be appointed to fill Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s seat once it becomes vacant should the chamber confirm him to be the next secretary of state.
Trump made his remarks on Monday during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently considering several candidates to fill the expected vacancy.
“Ron’s doing a good job, and it’s his choice. Nothing to do with me. Lara is unbelievable. She was incredible. The job she did at the RNC as chairman along with Michael Watley,” Trump said in response to a question about whether he had any insight into the governor’s decision.
“But I can’t just speak for Laura,” Trump said. “She is so highly respected by women. I mean, even her workout routines are through the roof. She lifts 150 pounds. I don’t know how the hell she does it.” The comments come as Rubio, a key figure in the Senate, has seen a rise in political prominence, and speculation swirls over potential appointments in Florida.
“But I can’t just speak for Laura,” Trump said. “She is so highly respected by women. I mean, even her workout routines are through the roof. She lifts 150 pounds. I don’t know how the hell she does it.”
Trump further clarified that Lara Trump’s priorities are a focus on her family, not a Senate seat.
“She could have run for the Senate in North Carolina,” Trump said, referring to the 2022 race where Lara, who is married to Eric Trump, ultimately chose not to run. “She just said, no, I want to really focus on my children.”
“Ron’s going to have to make that decision. And he’ll make the right decision,” Trump said. “People want her to be on television. They want to give her contracts.”
According to The Wall Street Journal, sources familiar with the matter told the outlet that Trump recently spoke with DeSantis, advocating for Lara Trump as a candidate to fill Rubio’s seat.
Lara signaled her ambitions last week when she announced her resignation as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, a position she assumed earlier this year while playing a key role in securing her father-in-law’s return to the White House, the outlet noted.
“I would say that my track record speaks for itself. Maybe having the last name Trump is just a little bit extra. I’m always happy to have it,” Lara Trump said on Fox News. Three years ago, Lara Trump and her husband, Eric, moved to Florida.
Previously, she considered running for the Senate in her home state of North Carolina, the WSJ confirmed.
“It is something I would seriously consider,” she added in an interview this week with The Associated Press.
Florida boasts a strong pool of ambitious Republicans, including individuals close to the governor. Allies of DeSantis note that he is considering a variety of candidates but acknowledge that selecting Lara Trump could help mend his relationship with the president-elect.
DeSantis has indicated that he will make his decision by early January, the WSJ report noted, adding:
It isn’t a given that DeSantis will pick Lara Trump, and people close to the governor note he has an independent streak. He is considering several candidates, including Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, according to a person familiar with the matter. But as one Trump insider observed, the idea has gone from a fanciful “wouldn’t that be interesting” sentiment to a distinct possibility.
The governor’s decision to challenge Trump for the presidential nomination led to vicious attacks from Trump over disloyalty given his endorsement was crucial for DeSantis as he ran for governor in 2018. DeSantis fired back during the campaign, noting Trump’s legal issues and age.
Trump and DeSantis, however, have since made amends.
