In a Truth Social posting sent out Thursday night, the president said that he was hoping that the current RNC Chair, Michael Whatley, will run for what is now an open U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina next year, thus leaving an opening for Gruters to fill.
“Fortunately, I have somebody who will do a wonderful job as the Chairman of the RNC,” Trump wrote. “His name is, Joe Gruters, and he will have my Complete and Total Endorsement.”
Gruters, 48, has been considered the favorite to become Florida’s next chief financial officer, after Trump endorsed him for that seat back in March of 2024, more than two-and-a-half years before the seat was expected to become open.
But that changed when former Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis stepped down from the position earlier this year to run and win a seat for Congress in north Florida. Despite the Trump endorsement, Gov. Ron DeSantis – never a fan of Gruters – chose Hernando County Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia to replace Patronis and said in a press conference announcing that decision that he would never have appointed Gruters, even if George Washington “rose from the dead and tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Will you appoint Joe Gruters CFO?”
“My response would be ‘no.’ I can’t do that without betraying the voters that elected me to lead this state in a conservative direction,” the governor said.
One public opinion survey showed that if Ingoglia were to face Gruters in a GOP primary for CFO next year, Gruters would be heavily favored to win that contest.
Republicans on board
Now it looks likely never to take place.
Gruters did not respond to an immediate request for comment from the Phoenix Friday morning, but other Florida Republicans enthusiastically applauded the president’s comments.
“As our former Chairman, we know he has what it takes to bring the @GOP to new heights,” wrote Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power on X. “He’s proven, tested, and ready to lead!”
“What a huge moment for the RNC to get a leader like Senator @JoeGruters,” said former CFO Jimmy Patronis. “He knows how to win in Florida. He’s fiercely loyal to President Trump and he will settle for nothing short of landslide victory in the 2026 midterms.”
“I’ve known Joe for over 20 years and witnessed his strategic vision and steadfast commitment to conservative principles,” said GOP Congressman Vern Buchanan in a statement. “His passion, integrity and leadership make him the right person for the job. The Republican Party is in good hands with a Chairman Gruters. Congrats Joe!”
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.
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This article appears in Jul 23-29, 2025.