The veto pledge capped a dramatic few days in which Republican legislators publicly criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis and portrayed themselves as truer allies of President Trump.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis promised Wednesday to veto a sweeping immigration bill, in the latest escalation of a statehouse showdown between the governor and the state's Republican legislative leadership, who have sparred over whose proposals would best carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

I spoke with the president today, and I told him I am working on this and we want to be helpful and he was basically, ‘I want as strong as possible, as strong as possible,’” DeSantis told supporters in the call.