Sunday 7 August 2022 03:58 PM Top Republican donor says he believes Donald Trump WILL NOT run in 2024 trends now
A prominent GOP donor who gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns says he does not believe the former president will run for the White House again in 2024.
Instead, Dallas businessman Doug Deason said he could see Trump anointing Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to take on the national MAGA torch.
He spoke to DailyMail.com in the offices of his financial empire shortly before the former president arrived to address conservatives in Dallas.
Once again, Trump delighted the crowd by trailing the idea of a 2024 run without confirming that he would definitely stand.
Deason said Trump had a lot to lose by running.
'I think Donald Trump is enjoying life,' he said. 'And I think that he is in a position as the power broker.
'He's the kingmaker and why would he want to go back and get the crap beat out of him all the time, and have all the responsibility and not be building his empire?
'He's had to go back and help rebuild it and you know, why let it deteriorate?
'Why would it fall apart again? Because he's just gonna get attacked just like he was.
'And he can be the kingmaker without being the king.'
Top Republican donor Doug Deason said he did not believe Donald Trump will run in 2024. Although he would win the party primary he would likely lose in the general election, he said
Trump appeared before the conservative faithful in Dallas on Saturday night, close to where Deason runs his financial office. Deason has supported Trump and the GOP with hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years but thinks Trump has a lot to lose by running again
Deason said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would do a wonderful job in the White House. And he said voters would be getting a 'twofer' with his wife Casey who is closely involved in her husband's campaign and acts as a powerful advocate for his policies
Trump retains a strong hold on the grassroots of the Republican Party.
So Deason's comments will be seen as a hint to the former president that powerful party backers would rather see him step aside rather than risk defeat.
Deason was a key player in helping Trump secure Texas. He was co-chair of the state's Trump Victory fund in 2020 and in 2016 he and his father Darwin Deason donated more than $900,000 to help elect Trump and other Republicans.
This time around, he said he was not turning his back on Trump, who he said would still likely win the Republican nomination if he decided to run.
But he talked up the appeal of DeSantis and his wife Casey.
'I think Ron DeSantis would be Donald Trump without all the baggage.
'I mean Donald J. Trump had the best policies of any president in my lifetime, including President Reagan.
'But you know he could be petty about things, and he wouldn't let things go. And you know, you love it and hate it.'
Deason has held fundraisers
