A lawyer for Donald Trump pressured Ron DeSantis not to run for president in 2024: 'Stay in Florida'

• Alina Habba, a lawyer for Donald Trump, warned Ron DeSantis against a 2024 bid.
• "DeSantis is DeSantis because of Trump," Habba said, telling him to "stay in Florida."

Alina Habba, a lawyer for Donald Trump, warned Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis not to run for the presidency in 2024, pressuring him to leave the path open for Trump.

"DeSantis is DeSantis because of Trump," Habba said on the pro-Trump Right Side Broadcasting Network, reported The Daily Beast, at a GOP rally in Ohio on Monday. "He needs to stay in Florida," she added.

"Just stay where you are. You are doing a great job in Florida." said Habba, adding: "Don't jump the gun. He's not ready yet."

In recent weeks, speculation has intensified that Trump and DeSantis could both declare campaigns to be the Republican nominee in 2024.

Though neither has formally declared, Trump has heavily hinted that he will, and has also given signals that he want DeSantis to stay out of it.

DeSantis has long been rumored to be preparing the ground for a presidential bid if. He is up for re-election as Florida governor in Tuesday's midterms, and has a significant lead in most polls, per the data website FiveThirtyEight.

The two were formerly close allies, with Trump boosting DeSantis' first gubernatorial campaign in 2018 with his endorsement, and DeSantis modelling his political persona on Trump.

During his stint as Florida governor he has become the only Republican whose popularity rivaled Trump's. He has gained national attention with political stunts designed to appeal to the GOP base, such as flying planeloads of migrants to Martha's Vineyard.

Some top Republicans believe that DeSantis is better placed than Trump to win the presidency in 2024, pointing to the numerous scandals and active investigations tainting Trump's political fortunes.