Lara Trump says she would 'love' to be a Senator
by GEOFF EARLE, DEPUTY U.S. POLITICAL EDITOR · Mail OnlineDonald Trump daughter-in-law Lara Trump says she would 'love' to serve in the Senate after her name got floated for the powerful appointment to succeed Marco Rubio, who is Trump's choice to be the next secretary of state.
'This is my home state now and has been for three years,' she told Fox News host Sean Hannity, a friend and advisor to the president-elect, during an appearance on his prime time show.
Donald Trump made his daughter-in-law co-chair of the Republican National Committee, and she crowed about the GOP's performance during a cycle when the party captured the White House and the Senate, while holding a narrow House majority.
He gave regular shout-outs to his daughter-in-law on the campaign trail, noting in battleground North Carolina that his granddaughter Carolina is named after Lara's home state.
'I was truly so honored to be the cochair of the RNC through really the mot historic election, I think, of any of our lifetimes,' she told Hannity.
She said she and her team 'accomplished on everything that we set out to do.'
'Likewise, if I am able to serve, I would love to serve the people of Florida. This is my home state now, and has been for three years. This is where Eric and I live, and truly to have that opportunity, I think would be incredible,' she gushed.
Then she touted her bonafides as a MAGA candidate, on a day when senators were shocked by Trump's announcement that he would nominate former Rep. Matt Gaetz to be attorney general, even amid a House ethics inquiry into sex trafficking allegations that he has denied.
The nomination, along with Trump's choice of Pete Hegseth to run the Pentagon and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence, were signs he intends to bend the Senate to his will as he carries out a campaign against the 'deep state.'
Senators also elected John Thune as Republican leader on Wednesday, turning back more MAGA-aligned Sen. Rick Scott of Florida.
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'No one knows better than I do the America First agenda or the goals of Donald Trump in the coming four years. So if I am asked, I would love to consider it, but I have yet to have a conversation with Governor DeSantis, so we will have to see,' she said.
If and when Rubio steps down, it will be up to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former bitter Trump rival who endorsed him after their contentious primary, to name a replacement to fill out part of his term.
Lara Trump's husband Eric is a Trump Organization exec who helped run the business during Trump's first term.
He has not said how he plans to mitigate potential financial conflicts during his forthcoming term.
Rubio's pick has received a strong reception from Republicans, as his experience in the agency he would help stacked up against Trump cabinet choices that shocked Republicans Wednesday.
'Leading the U.S. Department of State is a tremendous responsibility and I am honored by the trust President Trump has placed in me,' Rubio wrote Wednesday after the announcement. 'I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda.'
Whoever DeSantis picks would serve until a 2026 special election. DeSantis, who may still harbor presidential ambitions despite ending his campaign against Trump after Iowa, must decide whether to appoint a 'caretaker,' someone who would run to maintain the seat, or even himself.
Wrote Trump loyalist Anna Paulina Luna, '@LaraLeaTrump needs to be the nominated replacement by @GovDestantis for Rubio. She will keep the seat and avoid a messy primary for FLORIDA. Well spoken. Kicked butt on election integrity. Etc.'
Scott also jumped to get behind the effort to make Trump the junior senator from his state. 'RT if you think @LaraLeaTrump should be Florida’s next Senator!,' he posted on X.