Ron DeSantis will launch 2024 presidential marketing campaign throughout Twitter occasion with Elon Musk: Sources

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will launch his 2024 presidential marketing campaign throughout a social media occasion with Elon Musk on Wednesday evening, a number of sources accustomed to the matter advised ABC Information.

DeSantis will declare he’s in search of the Republican nomination throughout a stay, audio-only Twitter Areas occasion at 6 p.m. ET Wednesday, the sources stated. The Twitter dialog will probably be moderated by Musk ally David Sacks.

Later Wednesday, DeSantis will seem on Fox Information to speak about his marketing campaign.

Musk, the high-profile tech billionaire who purchased Twitter final 12 months, has said that he intends to again DeSantis in 2024.

Information of their occasion was first reported by NBC Information.

The governor’s plans for launching a White Home bid have shifted this 12 months, ABC Information has reported.

Among the many preliminary concepts was for DeSantis to tout his wins after the shut of the Florida Legislature’s present session, all through Could and nicely into June, whereas holding off on formally asserting a 2024 run so long as potential, sources acquainted have advised ABC Information.

However as hypothesis grew that he was the truth is gearing as much as run, and as former President Donald Trump and Trump’s political operation unleashed an onslaught of assaults, the governor and his group moved up his timeline — even scrapping tentative plans to launch an exploratory committee and transferring up a proper announcement date to Could fairly than June, sources have stated.

Separate from his Twitter occasion Wednesday, DeSantis’ group has additionally been planning for him to carry an official kickoff in his hometown of Dunedin, exterior Tampa, based on sources. That occasion is tentatively deliberate to happen the week of Memorial Day, however sources have cautioned that the main points might nonetheless change.

The governor may also meet with donors at a two-day occasion in Miami that begins Wednesday.

He’ll enter the Republican main discipline as Trump’s largest rival for the nomination. A current ABC Information/Washington Put up ballot confirmed DeSantis as Trump’s nearest potential opponent amongst Republicans and GOP-leaning independents.

Among the many six best-known candidates, Trump clinched 51% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents whereas DeSantis garnered 25%. Nonetheless, a majority of these voters stated they’d be glad with both Trump (75%) or DeSantis (64%) as their presidential nominee.

DeSantis held a name final week with donors and supporters the place he took on Trump instantly.

“You’ve gotten principally three individuals at this level which can be credible on this complete factor,” he stated, based on two individuals who have been on the decision.

“[President Joe] Biden, Trump and me. And I consider these three, two have an opportunity to get elected president: Biden and me, primarily based on all the info within the swing states, which isn’t nice for the previous president and possibly insurmountable as a result of individuals aren’t going to alter their view of him,” he stated.

On Tuesday, Trump’s group responded to information of DeSantis’ upcoming announcement by criticizing him as avoiding scrutiny.

“Asserting on Twitter is ideal for Ron DeSantis,” a Trump adviser advised ABC Information. “This fashion he doesn’t must work together with individuals and the media can’t ask him any questions.”

ABC Information’ Hannah Demissie, Jay O’Brien and Olivia Rubin contributed to this report.