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Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump, said she has withdrawn from consideration to replace Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, instead teasing another "big announcement" in January.
Lara, 42, had previously said she would "100% consider" replacing Rubio, who was nominated as the secretary of state for her father-in-law's administration, while resigning as co-chair of the Republican National Committee earlier this month.
“After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate,” she wrote on her X account. “I could not have been more honored to serve as RNC co-chair during the most high-stakes election of our lifetime and I’m truly humbled by the unbelievable support shown to me by the people of our country, and here in the great state of Florida. I have read so many of your kind messages and I cannot thank you enough.”
President-elect Trump had previously said that he didn't expect Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to appoint Lara for the soon-to-be vacant Senate seat.
“No, I don’t. I probably don’t, but I don’t know. Ron’s doing a good job,” Trump said on Monday (December 16) via the Hill. “It’s his choice. Got nothing to do with me. Lara’s unbelievable.”
The president-elect's comments came days after reports that he was pushing for DeSantis to appoint his daughter-in-law to replace Rubio. Other candidates expected to be considered to replace Rubio include Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner, Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva and the governor’s chief of staff James Uthmeier.