Ex-Trump Official Ken Cuccinelli Launches Pro-DeSantis PAC

Topline

Former Trump Administration homeland security official Ken Cuccinelli launched a super PAC Thursday backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024, marking the latest one-time Trump ally to buddy up to DeSantis as he eyes next year’s GOP nomination.

Key Facts

Cuccinelli—who served as deputy secretary of homeland security during the Trump Administration—called on DeSantis to run for president in a video debuting the “Never Back Down” PAC, telling viewers: “America’s future is Ron DeSantis.”

Speaking about DeSantis’ record, Cuccinelli said the Florida governor has “acted to protect our children from Disney like no one in history,” a reference to DeSantis’ takeover of the board that oversees Disney’s special Florida district in retaliation for Disney’s opposition to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

“When Gov. DeSantis is President DeSantis, there won’t be any Chinese spy balloons drifting across America,” Cuccinelli said, referring to the suspected spy balloon that was shot down over the Atlantic Ocean last month and the three others that were deployed over U.S. territory during Trump’s presidency.

Never Back Down was registered with the Federal Election Commission as a super PAC, meaning there are no limits on the amount of money donors can give to the organization, but it cannot directly coordinate with DeSantis or any other candidate.

Cuccinelli is the latest one-time Trump ally who has entered DeSantis’ orbit: Several former Trump backers, including Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) and former campaign finance committee Roy Bailey, were spotted at a DeSantis fundraising event in Palm Beach last month and Trump was snubbed by a major conservative donor event last weekend that DeSantis headlined.

Other former Trump allies have also launched PACs in support of DeSantis, including Ed Rollins, a former adviser to the Trump-aligned Great America PAC who launched “Ready for Ron” last year, and political operative and former Trump backer John Thomas, who launched “Ron to the Rescue” in November.

Key Background

DeSantis is not expected to announce a decision on running for president until the conclusion of the Florida legislative session in May, but both he and Trump have ramped up their political activity in recent weeks. Over the weekend, the two appeared at dueling Republican gatherings. DeSantis headlined an event hosted by the fiscally conservative Club for Growth, a major spender on Republican races. Trump was not invited to the event amid a feud that began during last year’s primaries, when he and the group endorsed opposing GOP Senate candidates. Trump instead appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, which DeSantis did not attend. DeSantis heads to Iowa on Friday where he will meet with state lawmakers and speak about his new book, The Courage to Be Free. Trump is set to visit Iowa three days later.

Tangent

Cuccinelli, a former Virginia attorney general who backed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.) in his 2016 run for president, played a role in Trump’s attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. In the wake of Trump’s loss, he reportedly asked Department of Homeland Security analysts to examine mail-in voting machines for evidence of fraud and exchanged messages with former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows about the unfounded conspiracy that voting machine errors contributed to Trump’s loss.

What We Don’t Know

Who else will jump into the 2024 GOP primary contest. Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and investment firm manager Vivek Ramaswamy are the only three candidates to have formally announced their campaigns. Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, and his former secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, are among those considering bids. Haley also served under Trump as United Nations ambassador.

Further Reading

Here’s Why Trump Was Snubbed By A Major Conservative Event Headlined By DeSantis (Forbes)

Another Billionaire Megadonor Defects From Trump After 2024 Launch—As Party Heavyweights Stray From Former President (Forbes)

Trump’s 2024 GOP Competition: Investment Firm Manager Vivek Ramaswamy Announces Run For President (Forbes)