Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to declare his candidacy for the presidency.
The announcement will take place during a conversation between DeSantis and Twitter CEO Elon Musk, according to reports. The event will be held on Twitter Spaces, the platform’s audio chat feature, at 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The discussion will be moderated by David Sacks, a tech entrepreneur who is both a close associate of Musk and a supporter of DeSantis.
Following the announcement, the campaign will unveil a launch video on the same evening. Additionally, Governor DeSantis will commence visits to several early states after the Memorial Day holiday.
NBC News reported:
The relationship could be a significant boost for DeSantis by giving him an introduction to, and credibility with, Musk’s massive following — including his 140 million Twitter followers. But it could prove a burden should DeSantis become distracted by the tycoon’s many controversial comments.
The launch will closely tie together the billionaire tech mogul with one of the Republican Party’s rising stars. Musk has been an admirer of DeSantis, who also regularly chides corporate media. Last year, Musk said he would support the governor if he were to run for president.
The announcement will coincide with a retreat for high-end fundraisers pledged to support DeSantis in Miami. Bundlers will gather at the Four Seasons hotel from May 24-26, receiving briefings from campaign staff, combined with time to call around to raise money for the campaign.
The DeSantis team has been in talks with Musk for at least the last few weeks, according to a source familiar with the discussions. In those conversations, the source said, Musk has indicated he doesn’t think former President Donald Trump can win back the White House.
“He’s interested in the future, and he’s interested in winning again,” the person said.
It’s not clear if Musk will formally endorse DeSantis on Wednesday, but another source said that within DeSantis’ team, his participation is viewed as a clear sign of support for the governor.
Balancing the advantages of Musk’s support with potential distractions will be a key challenge for DeSantis as he seeks to solidify his position as a Republican frontrunner in the upcoming presidential race.