Musk says he will support DeSantis if Florida governor runs for president

WASHINGTON, Nov 25 (Reuters) – Billionaire Elon Musk mentioned on Friday he would help Ron DeSantis in 2024 if the Florida governor, who just lately coasted to a second time period, had been to run for president.

DeSantis earlier this month defeated Democratic opponent Charlie Crist by practically 20 share factors to be re-elected as Florida governor and cemented himself because the Republican Get together’s high rising star.

Political pundits have been doling out excessive marks to DeSantis, who’s seen as a possible challenger to former president Donald Trump within the 2024 discipline of Republican presidential candidates. Trump introduced 10 days in the past he was operating for election once more in 2024.

“My desire for the 2024 presidency is somebody smart and centrist. I had hoped that may the case for the Biden administration, however have been disillusioned to this point,” Musk mentioned on Twitter.

“Sure”, he replied in a tweet when requested if he would help DeSantis in 2024.

“As a reminder, I used to be a major supporter of the Obama-Biden presidency and (reluctantly) voted for Biden over Trump,” the Twitter proprietor mentioned.

Musk had beforehand mentioned in June he was leaning in the direction of supporting DeSantis for president in 2024, and added the Florida governor would simply defeat Biden within the election.

When requested again then about Musk’s help, DeSantis joked, “I welcome help from African-Individuals, what can I say.” Musk, who’s white, grew up in South Africa.

DeSantis is very common with conservatives for taking the lead on tradition battle points regarding race and gender. His governorship has been marked by his rejection of pandemic-related well being restrictions, passage of a regulation limiting dialogue of LGBTQ points in colleges, and a feud with Walt Disney (DIS.N) over the regulation.

Musk urged Individuals to elect a Republican Congress within the U.S. midterm elections earlier this month to counterbalance Biden’s Democrats. Nonetheless, the Democrats defied Republican hopes for a “purple wave” within the midterms and retained management of the Senate whereas the Republicans solely gained a slender majority within the Home of Representatives.

Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Modifying by Kim Coghill

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Rules.