Trump shared his endorsement of Patronis on Truth Social, calling him a “wonderful friend” to him and MAGA.

“As your next congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Incredible Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote. “Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!”

Last week, Patronis shared on X that he was seriously considering running for the open seat.

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) announced that the primary election for Gaetz’s seat will be on Jan. 28 and the special election on April 1.

Notably, Patronis promoted legislation that would make Florida taxpayers cover Trump’s legal fees.

“Freedom Fighters Fund” is proposed to provide up to $5 million in “financial support to Florida residents running for President who face legal, partisan, political attacks by the Department of Justice or State Attorneys.”

“We’ve got a Florida Man —Donald Trump — running for President, and he’s facing ongoing legal challenges from Democrats in New York, Washington DC, and Atlanta,” Patronis said in a tweet in January. “The Left is really good at weaponizing the courts, and because President Biden is so unpopular, they’re not just trying to beat Trump at the ballot box, they’re trying to throw him behind bars, which is outrageous,” Patronis said at the time. “If we can help and support a Florida candidate for the White House, that’s just good from a dollars and cents perspective.”

DeSantis had said he would veto the legislation if it came across his desk.

Gaetz resigned from Congress after Trump nominated him as the next attorney general. He has since withdrawn his name from consideration, as the fight to get confirmed appeared to be a battle he couldn’t win.

In addition to his reputation as a bomb thrower who did not get along with many people in his caucus, Gaetz was also facing down an Ethics Committee report about allegations that he paid to have sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz denied the allegations, and a Department of Justice investigation into the charges was dropped.

Gaetz won his seat with 66% of the vote this past election. Possible contenders also include Republican state Reps. Michelle Salzman and Joel Rudman, and former U.S. Army Capt. John Frankman.