Ron DeSantis will announce his presidential candidacy on Wednesday during an exchange with Elon Musk

He throws himself. Republican Ron DeSantis will announce his candidacy for the 2024 US presidential election on Wednesday during a live Twitter chat with Elon Musk, AFP reported on Tuesday (May 23). This information was quickly confirmed by the head of the social network. “I’m going to interview Ron DeSantis and he has a big announcement to make”he said in an exchange with The Wall Street Journal. The conversation between the two men is scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. Washington time (midnight Paris time).

The governor of Florida is seen as Donald Trump’s main rival for the Republican nomination. This former naval officer was narrowly elected in 2018 to lead Florida in the southeastern part of the United States after receiving the support of Donald Trump, then in the White House. He has since distanced himself from the billionaire and has gained popularity by multiplying ultra-conservative outings on education or immigration – in the name of fighting the supposed “well-thinkers”.

An announced duel with Donald Trump

But Ron DeSantis’ path to the White House is full of pitfalls. The 44-year-old governor, on whom many conservatives had placed their hopes for the presidency after his triumphant re-election in Florida in November 2022, is seriously behind Donald Trump – officially the candidate since November 16, 2022 – according to numerous surveys. ‘opinion.

Both men are the two favorites for the Republican nomination. The other declared Republican candidates – Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson – currently rarely exceed 5% of voting intentions.