During a public appearance at the opening of the 'Alligator Alcatraz' ICE facility, former President Donald Trump expressed appreciation and friendship toward Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a former political rival. Trump stated, "Ron, I would like to thank you personally. You are my friend and you will always be my friend." He acknowledged the possibility of future disagreements but expressed confidence that their relationship would endure, saying, "We may have some skirmishes even in the future, I doubt it, but we’ll always come back because we have blood that seems to match pretty well." The remarks were widely reported by multiple news outlets and social media accounts, highlighting a tone of reconciliation and mutual respect between the two Republican figures. Observers noted that DeSantis appeared to have accepted the outcome of their political contests with humility, and there is hope for future collaboration after DeSantis's gubernatorial term ends.