Ron DeSantis Gifts President Trump Gold Coin Mocking Failed Assassination Attempts: ‘You Missed, Bitches’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis welcomed President Trump back to the Sunshine State on Friday with an unusual gift: a custom gold coin featuring the president raising his middle finger alongside a defiant message directed at those who tried to kill him.
The commemorative coin, which reads “YOU MISSED BITCHES,” features an image of a smiling Trump making the provocative gesture. The design appears to reference the assassination attempts the president survived during his 2024 campaign for the White House.
DeSantis presented the gift after Trump stepped off Air Force One in Florida ahead of a major Republican campaign rally in Fort Myers.
The governor greeted the president on the airport tarmac before showing reporters the coin, which quickly attracted attention on social media.
DeSantis explained that the coin came from a friend and that he immediately wanted to give one to Trump.
“I need to get this to the president. Can I please have one to give to him?” DeSantis recalled telling his friend.
The gift offered a lighthearted moment between two Republican leaders whose political relationship has undergone a significant transformation since their bitter rivalry during the 2024 presidential primary.
Trump and DeSantis were once fierce competitors for the Republican nomination, exchanging personal attacks and disagreements over their respective records.
DeSantis ultimately withdrew from the race in January 2024 and endorsed Trump, who went on to win the presidential election that November.
Since then, the two Republicans have worked to rebuild their relationship, particularly on immigration enforcement and other administration priorities.
Friday’s exchange provided another public demonstration of their improved relationship as Republicans campaign across the country ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
The coin’s message references one of the most dramatic periods of Trump’s political career.
On July 13, 2024, a gunman opened fire during Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, striking the then-presidential candidate in the ear.
Trump survived the shooting, but the attack killed volunteer firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was attending the rally with his family.
Two other spectators were seriously wounded.
The gunman, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service counter-sniper.
Images of Trump raising his fist with blood visible on his face became defining photographs of the 2024 presidential campaign.
The president later credited the quick actions of law enforcement and Secret Service personnel with preventing additional casualties.
A second apparent assassination attempt occurred in September 2024 at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Authorities discovered an armed suspect near the golf course while Trump was playing.
A Secret Service agent opened fire after spotting a rifle protruding from the bushes, and the suspect fled before being apprehended.
Trump was not injured during that incident.
The two incidents prompted extensive scrutiny of Secret Service procedures and the security arrangements surrounding the Republican presidential nominee.
They also became an important part of Trump’s political story, with the president frequently discussing how narrowly he escaped death during the Butler shooting.
The coin presented by DeSantis uses humor and an unmistakably confrontational message to reference Trump’s survival.
Its inscription reflects the president’s reputation for responding defiantly to threats and political attacks.
The governor’s presentation came as Trump arrived in Florida to campaign for Republican candidates in several closely watched statewide races.
Among those receiving the president’s support were Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican nominee for governor, and Sen. Ashley Moody, who is seeking election to a full Senate term.
Donalds is running against former Republican congressman David Jolly, who is now the Democratic nominee for governor.
The contest will determine who succeeds DeSantis, who is completing his second term and cannot immediately seek reelection under Florida’s term limits.
Trump has strongly supported Donalds, a longtime political ally who has represented Southwest Florida in Congress.
The president’s rally in Fort Myers was intended to encourage Republican turnout during the final stretch of the midterm campaign.
Speaking with reporters after arriving, Trump emphasized the importance of participation in the upcoming election.
“Just get out and vote. If they vote, we’re gonna win big,” the president said.
DeSantis echoed the importance of turnout, pointing to the Republican Party’s growth in Florida during his time as governor.
The governor said Florida had approximately 300,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans when he first ran for governor in 2018.
He contrasted that figure with the state’s current registration advantage of approximately 1.5 million Republicans.
DeSantis argued that the shift reflects the changing political landscape in a state that was once considered one of the nation’s most competitive presidential battlegrounds.
He also emphasized that Republican turnout would be important in other Senate contests across the country.
The governor credited Trump with energizing Republican voters and attracting large crowds at campaign events.
Despite their previous disagreements, DeSantis and Trump have found common ground on several major policy priorities.
Both have supported aggressive immigration enforcement, restrictions on illegal immigration and efforts to expand Republican political influence in Florida.
DeSantis has also pursued state initiatives that align with the administration’s immigration agenda.
Their relationship has not been without differences, particularly over certain state policies and technology regulations.
However, those disagreements have not prevented the governor from publicly welcoming Trump and participating in Republican campaign efforts.
Friday’s appearance was particularly notable because DeSantis had previously challenged Trump for leadership of the Republican Party.
During the 2024 primary, Trump frequently criticized the Florida governor and gave him the nickname “Ron DeSanctimonious.”
DeSantis responded by questioning Trump’s leadership and arguing that Republicans needed a different approach to governing.
The contest ended when DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign following a disappointing performance in the Iowa caucuses.
He subsequently endorsed Trump and urged Republicans to unite behind the eventual nominee.
The relationship has improved considerably since Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.
The president’s visit to Florida also demonstrated the political importance of the state’s upcoming gubernatorial election.
Donalds has sought to build on the Republican coalition assembled during the DeSantis administration while maintaining a close relationship with Trump.
Jolly, meanwhile, has attempted to appeal to Democrats, independents and voters dissatisfied with the state’s Republican leadership.
Trump’s appearance was intended to strengthen support for Donalds and other Republican candidates before early voting concludes.
The president also used the Fort Myers rally to address national political issues, criticize Democratic candidates and discuss his administration’s priorities.
But one of the day’s most memorable moments occurred before the rally even began.
The image of DeSantis handing Trump a gold coin featuring an obscene gesture quickly circulated online, drawing attention to the unusual gift and the relationship between the two Republican leaders.
For Trump, the coin served as another reminder of the assassination attempts he survived on his way back to the presidency.
For DeSantis, it offered an opportunity to welcome his former political rival with a gift that reflected Trump’s combative public persona.
The exchange also illustrated how far their relationship has come since the contentious 2024 Republican primary.
With the midterm elections approaching, both leaders are now publicly focused on encouraging Republican turnout and supporting the party’s candidates.
And DeSantis made sure Trump’s latest visit to Florida began with a memorable message: “You missed, bitches.”
