Florida Republicans defend DeSantis and Gaetz amidst leaked debate tapes.

Rep. Matt Gaetz brushed off leaked videos of him helping Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis prepare for a debate during his 2018 campaign with a joke about their weight loss. The videos show DeSantis and Gaetz discussing how to communicate the governor’s differences with then-President Trump without angering his supporters. Gaetz, a former adviser of DeSantis, has emerged as a public ally of Trump and has endorsed him for president. DeSantis is expected to announce his candidacy for the 2024 presidency as early as next week, setting up a primary contest against Trump.