![President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters, on his way to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, October 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. The President and First Lady are making a visit to the U.S. Secret Service training facility in Beltsville, Maryland. [Photo by Drew Angerer | Getty Images]](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer//Au28Z4wlqtxHHnoT0NYb76p0RNk=/426x0/smart/filters:format(webP)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-wordpress-client-uploads/tbt/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/13155152/GYI_775058936_860989406.jpg "President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters, on his way to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, October 13, 2017 in Washington, DC. The President and First Lady are making a visit to the U.S. Secret Service training facility in Beltsville, Maryland. [Photo by Drew Angerer | Getty Images]")
President Trump, flying to Palm Beach, just gave a big backing to U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis for governor.
"Congressman Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader, Yale and then Harvard Law, who would make a GREAT Governor of Florida," Trump wrote on Twitter. "He loves our Country and is a true FIGHTER!"
The random shout-out appears to be because Trump, toward the end his flight to Florida, saw a Fox News segment with DeSantis, according to a reporter on the plane.
DeSantis, R-Palm Coast, hasn't announced a campaign but that's the expectation, and he's been visible with Trump this year, most recently flying with him to Pensacola for a rally.
"I'm grateful to have the President's support and appreciate what he has done — from appointing great judges to recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital to signing a pro-growth tax cut — to get our country back on track," DeSantis, still not an official candidate, said in a news release featuring Trump's tweet. "As an Iraq veteran, I'm especially appreciative of his efforts to support our military and our veterans. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"
In the GOP primary, he'd join Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam and, for now, Sen. Jack Latvala. House Speaker Richard Corcoran is expected to enter the race after session.
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