Elon Musk ‘leaning toward’ voting for DeSantis for president in 2024

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Elon Musk said Wednesday on Twitter that he is leaning toward voting for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024.
• DeSantis has brushed aside any talk of running for president in 2024.
• Musk said last month that he will vote for Republicans and can “no longer support” Democrats. 

Elon Musk is leaning toward voting for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president in 2024, he said Wednesday on Twitter.

DeSantis, however, has avoided any talks of running for president in 2024. The Republican governor is a known ally of former President Donald Trump and is often considered to be a likely front-runner in the party should he run.

As a response to another Twitter account called Tesla Owners Silicon Valley, Musk revealed simply that he would support DeSantis in 2024. The thread started after the Tesla and SpaceX CEO  replied to a tweet from The Texan. The news outlet declared Republican Mayra Flores’ victory in a special election for Texas’ 34th Congressional District. Flores flipped a House seat after long-time Democrat Rep. Filemon Vela resigned in March and vacated the seat.

“I voted for Mayra Flores – first time I ever voted Republican,” Musk tweeted in a response to The Texan’s post. “Massive red wave in 2022,” he tweeted.

In late 2020, the billionaire confirmed that he had moved to Texas where he later relocated Tesla’s headquarters from California.

When the Tesla Owners Silicon Valley account asked Musk if he would vote Republican for president as well, the Tesla CEO replied, “tbd.” The account then asked what direction he was leaning toward. Musk simply responded: “DeSantis.”

DeSantis— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 15, 2022

In May, Musk said that a GOP candidate “less divisive” than Trump ‘would be better’ as president in 2024.

Another Twitter account, Spidey_ElonFan, responded to Musk and asked, “But your political donations will be evenly spread out, as you do always. Right??”

“I’m thinking of creating a ‘Super Moderate Super PAC’ that supports candidates with centrist views from all parties,” Musk replied.

DeSantis was asked about Musk’s tweet at a press conference on Wednesday. He responded: “I’m focused on 2022, but with Elon Musk what I would say is, you know, I welcome support from African-Americans. What can I say?” Musk was born in South Africa.

Musk said last month that he would vote for Republicans in upcoming elections, indicating he’s voted for Democrats in the past, including former President Barack Obama.

The billionaire explained that he has voted for Democrats “because they were (mostly) the kindness party. But they have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.”

Source: CNBC