The sources have revealed to NBC News that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to announce his candidacy for president during a Twitter Spaces event with CEO Elon Musk. The event is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET and will be moderated by tech entrepreneur David Sacks, a close associate of Musk and a supporter of DeSantis.
The announcement will be accompanied by the release of a launch video, and DeSantis will begin visiting early primary states following Memorial Day. The collaboration with Musk, who has a massive following on Twitter with 140 million followers, is expected to provide DeSantis with an introduction to Musk’s audience and enhance his credibility. However, it could also pose challenges if DeSantis becomes entangled in controversies surrounding Musk’s controversial comments.
The event coincides with a retreat in Miami for high-end fundraisers who have pledged their support to DeSantis. Bundlers will receive briefings from the campaign staff and engage in fundraising efforts for the campaign.
According to a source familiar with the discussions, DeSantis’ team has been in talks with Musk for several weeks. Musk reportedly expressed doubts about former President Donald Trump’s ability to regain the White House, indicating his interest in the future and winning again.
It remains uncertain whether Musk will formally endorse DeSantis during the event, but his participation is seen within DeSantis’ team as a clear sign of support.
While Musk’s endorsement or participation in the event would significantly boost DeSantis’ campaign, it is important to note that Musk’s actions can be unpredictable. Recently, Musk praised an advertisement by Senator Tim Scott, who is also a contender for the GOP nomination.
I expect the campaign will be painting a positive vision for the country, and the entire rollout will highlight future vs. past, success vs. failure, winning vs. losing and action vs. talk. That is the frame of the race,” a source familiar with the plan said.
“Announcing on Twitter is perfect for Ron DeSantis,” a Trump adviser told NBC News in a text message. “This way he doesn’t have to interact with people and the media can’t ask him any questions.”
The partnership between Musk and DeSantis aligns a billionaire tech mogul with a rising star in the Republican Party, challenging the perceived inevitability and influence of Trump. DeSantis and Musk first met at a dinner party in early 2021 and also share a connection through Sacks, who is supportive of DeSantis and involved in Twitter-related decisions with Musk.
Musk has garnered a substantial following on Twitter after promising to restore “free speech” on the platform, attracting conservative voices who felt censored. DeSantis’ team sees partnering with Musk as an opportunity to bypass traditional media and communicate directly with their conservative audience, similar to Trump’s approach before his Twitter ban.
However, there are risks involved. Musk’s international fame could overshadow DeSantis, who is not as widely recognized outside political circles. DeSantis may also face challenges addressing and being associated with Musk’s positions and controversial statements, potentially including individual tweets.
