President-elect Donald Trump is gathering a group of prominent Republican governors at his Mar-a-Lago estate this Thursday evening in an effort to align state leaders behind his policy priorities ahead of his inauguration later this month. The meeting, expected to include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, will focus on how state-level leaders can assist in implementing Trump’s vision for the nation in the coming months.
The role of state governors will be crucial as Trump prepares to carry out his ambitious plans, including his promise to crack down on illegal immigration. Trump has made it clear that he intends to carry out mass deportations of criminal illegal immigrants and will rely heavily on state and local law enforcement agencies to help execute this policy. With this in mind, the gathering at Mar-a-Lago is seen as a key opportunity to solidify the governors’ support and ensure they are on the same page.
Governor DeSantis, who is attending despite his previous rivalry with Trump during the 2024 GOP primaries, is expected to play a prominent role. DeSantis, having faced criticism from Trump during the campaign for his delayed endorsement, ultimately threw his support behind the former president after suspending his own bid. Trump’s relationship with Governor Reynolds has been more contentious as well, particularly after she backed DeSantis in the primary. However, Reynolds has now expressed her commitment to supporting Trump’s agenda, saying she is ready to help make America “Safe, Prosperous, and Great Again.”
Trump’s meeting with governors follows a similar strategy session he held with Republican senators in Washington earlier this week. Over the weekend, he is also expected to host House Republicans at Mar-a-Lago for further discussions on how to push his legislative agenda forward. This round of strategy talks is aimed at ensuring a unified approach as Trump prepares to take office and begin implementing his promises.