Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s wife launches his 2024 presidential bid - latest

Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday following months of speculation.

The Florida governor will take part in a live Twitter event with Elon Musk on Wednesday night, NBC News reports. Afterward, the campaign will release an official launch video.

On Tuesday night Casey DeSantis kicked off her husband’s campaign by posting a video of him getting ready to go on stage in front of an American flag.

“America is worth the fight... Every. Single. Time,” Ms DeSantis tweeted along with the expensively produced video.

On Monday, Mr DeSantis, 44, teased his 2024 bid while speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando in which he outlined his vision for a conservative grip on the Supreme Court to last a quarter of a century.

In what appeared to be a subtle swipe at Donald Trump he announced his plans to run for eight years – something Mr Trump cannot do.

Mr DeSantis, 44, is seen as Mr Trump’s biggest rival for the Republican vote with several Republican lawmakers and right-wing media rallying behind him after the midterms.

However, the latest polls show Mr DeSantis trailing Mr Trump.

This comes at a time when Mr DeSantis is going to war with Disney and pushing back on the NAACP‘s advisory warning travellers that Florida is “openly hostile” towards Black people, people of colour and LGBT+ people due to his laws.

Key Points

DeSantis makes subtle dig at Trump and vows to ‘protect faith and family’

05:45 , Oliver O'Connell

As DeSantis pitched the appointment of a seventh right-leaning justice to the Supreme Court, the Florida governor noted how he, if elected president, would be able to run for re-election and spend eight years in the White House, unlike Mr Trump who would only be able to serve one term as he has already spent four years as the commander-in-chief.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Ron DeSantis teases 2024 bid as he makes subtle dig at Trump

Would DeSantis do better than Trump against Biden? Laura Ingraham thinks so

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has lashed out at his longtime booster and Fox News host Laura Ingraham after she reported on polls suggesting the former president’s Republican rival would be a better match to take back the White House in 2024.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Trump slams Fox News’ Laura Ingraham over ‘hit piece’ praising DeSantis

Someone who won’t be running for president? Tucker Carlson

03:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for Tucker Carlson sent a cease-and-desist letter to a super PAC urging the former Fox News host to run for president.

“Mr. Carlson will not run for President in 2024 under any circumstances, and therefore your misrepresentations are damaging to Mr. Carlson and defrauding his supporters,” the letter, sent Monday and obtained by The Hill, reads.

“If you do not immediately cease and desist your efforts to solicit money to ‘draft’ Mr. Carlson, we will use every legal means at our disposal to vindicate his rights and protect his supporters from these misrepresentations.”

Josh Marcus has the full story.

Tucker Carlson sends cease and desist to PAC urging him to run in 2024 election

Trump v DeSantis: How did the two fall out?

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

No one will be watching more keenly than Donald Trump this week as Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally makes the long-awaited announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024.

During his own tenure in the White House in 2018, Mr Trump loudly cheered Mr DeSantis’s bid for the governor’s mansion, throwing his weight behind the former congressman and appearing at rallies to stump for him, playing an important role in the candidate’s narrow defeat of Democratic rival and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum.

Since then, however, a great deal of water has passed beneath the bridge and the two men are now increasingly antagonistic towards each other.

A timeline of Donald Trump’s rivalry with Ron DeSantis

David Sacks: The controversial entrepreneur hosting Ron DeSantis 2024 event with Elon Musk

02:17 , Graeme Massie

South African-born venture capitalist has stirred controversy with his stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Who is David Sacks: the controversial entrepreneur hosting DeSantis 2024 event

Pride events cancelled across Florida due to ‘climate of fear’

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Pride organisers in Florida have called off events that were to take place during the Pride Month in the wake of the latest anti-LGBT+ laws signed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Organisers based in the town of St Cloud outside Orlando announced on Thursday that they have cancelled the upcoming 10 June event, saying they are aware that it is “unsafe to hold the event”.

Shweta Sharma reports.

Pride events cancelled across Florida due to ‘climate of fear’ after anti-LGBT+ laws

DeSantis’s wife launches his presidential campaign with first 2024 video: ‘America is worth the fight’

01:14 , Graeme Massie

Florida governor is expected to unveil his bid for the White House at an event with Elon Musk on Wednesday .

DeSantis’s wife launches his presidential campaign with first 2024 video

DeSantis responds to NAACP advising against travel to ‘openly hostile’ Florida

Wednesday 24 May 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is brushing off any concern about the NAACP issuing a formal advisory warning travelers that the Sunshine State is “openly hostile” towards Black people, people of colour and LGBT+ people.

The Independent approached Mr DeSantis’ office on Monday about the advisory issued by the largest and oldest civil rights organisation in the United States on 20 May.

Alex Woodward has the story.

DeSantis responds to NAACP call for tourists to boycott Florida

Trump bashes DeSantis as he shares surprisingly positive response to Tim Scott entering race

Tuesday 23 May 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump took yet another swing at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he welcomed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott to the Republican presidential race.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Trump slams DeSantis as he welcomes Tim Scott to presidential race

Casey DeSantis gives cheeky response to reports of husband’s campaign launch

Tuesday 23 May 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Casey DeSantis, the wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, has posted a cheeky response to reports on her husband’s imminent 2024 campaign launch.

Mr DeSantis is reportedly set to announce his campaign on Wednesday on Twitter along with platform owner and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Here’s what Ms DeSantis said:

Casey DeSantis gives cheeky response to reports husband is launching 2024 campaign

Why is Florida’s governor at war with Disney?

Tuesday 23 May 2023 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

For years, Florida legislators and the governor’s office enjoyed a close relationship with The Walt Disney Company, among the state’s largest employers, wielding enormous political influence while bringing in billions of dollars to the state each year.

Now, the company and allies of Republican governor Ron DeSantis are suing one another, following a year-long feud over opposition to what opponents have called Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law that boiled over into political and legal battles that could shape the company’s business in the state.

Alex Woodward explains.

DeSantis v Disney: Why Florida’s governor is at war with the Mouse

Report: DeSantis recruiting police officers with violent records

Tuesday 23 May 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

A number of law enforcement officers lured to Florida with one-time bonuses under a programme championed by Governor Ron DeSantis have violent records, new reporting shows.

Last spring, Mr DeSantis signed legislation giving a $5,000 after-tax bonus to new law enforcement recruits in Florida. The bill, Mr DeSantis claimed, would lure the “best and the brightest” law enforcement officers from states around the country to Florida.

Abe Asher reports.

DeSantis is recruiting police officers with violent records, report says

DeSantis assembles team of business leaders to bundle campaign donations

Tuesday 23 May 2023 22:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has assembled a team of wealthy business leaders to help raise money for his 2024 presidential campaign, according to a partial list seen by CNBC.

The network reports that the list of “bundlers” includes figures from a range of sectors including real estate and finance. They will gather at the Four Seasons hotel in Miami from Wednesday through to Friday where they will receive briefings from campaign staff and call around to raise money for the campaign.

Hamburger Mary’s sues Florida over DeSantis drag ban hurting business

Tuesday 23 May 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A famous drag show restaurant has filed a lawsuit against the state of Florida and Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming a bill that prohibits children’s attendance at drag shows has hurt its business and is a violation of the First Amendment.

Hamburger Mary’s Orlando, a franchise location of the drag show restaurant chain Hamburger Mary’s, is alleging that the state of Florida, “Seeks to explicitly restrict or chill speech and expression protected by the First Amendment” in a lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida on Monday.

Ariana Baio has the details.

Restaurant Hamburger Mary’s sues Florida over DeSantis drag ban hurting business

DNC spokesperson reacts to upcoming DeSantis announcement

Tuesday 23 May 2023 22:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Asked about the upcoming launch of the DeSantis 2024 campaign, DNC spokesperson Ammar Moussa said: “Launching a campaign for the dozens of people on Twitter Spaces is curious, even for the world’s most online candidate. But what’s even more curious is how DeSantis thinks his MAGA agenda of ripping freedoms from Floridians, banning abortion before many women know they’re pregnant, making it easier for criminals to carry guns, or any other of his extreme planks will resonate with Americans when voters have rejected the MAGA agenda over and over.”

Timeline: DeSantis v Trump

Tuesday 23 May 2023 21:45 , Oliver O'Connell

No one will be watching more keenly than Donald Trump this week as Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally makes the long-awaited announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024.

During his own tenure in the White House in 2018, Mr Trump loudly cheered Mr DeSantis’s bid for the governor’s mansion, throwing his weight behind the former congressman and appearing at rallies to stump for him, playing an important role in the candidate’s narrow defeat of Democratic rival and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum.

Since then, however, a great deal of water has passed beneath the bridge and the two men are now increasingly antagonistic towards each other.

Read more...

A timeline of Donald Trump’s rivalry with Ron DeSantis

Someone who won’t be running for president? Tucker Carlson

Tuesday 23 May 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Lawyers for Tucker Carlson sent a cease-and-desist letter to a super PAC urging the former Fox News host to run for president.

“Mr. Carlson will not run for President in 2024 under any circumstances, and therefore your misrepresentations are damaging to Mr. Carlson and defrauding his supporters,” the letter, sent Monday and obtained by The Hill, reads.

“If you do not immediately cease and desist your efforts to solicit money to ‘draft’ Mr. Carlson, we will use every legal means at our disposal to vindicate his rights and protect his supporters from these misrepresentations.”

Josh Marcus has the full story.

Tucker Carlson sends cease and desist to PAC urging him to run in 2024 election

Would DeSantis do better than Trump against Biden? Laura Ingraham thinks so

Tuesday 23 May 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has lashed out at his longtime booster and Fox News host Laura Ingraham after she reported on polls suggesting the former president’s Republican rival would be a better match to take back the White House in 2024.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Trump slams Fox News’ Laura Ingraham over ‘hit piece’ praising DeSantis

Martin Luther King’s daughter condemns Ted Cruz and backs NAACP Florida travel advisory

Tuesday 23 May 2023 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Texas Senator Ted Cruz found himself denounced by the daughter of late civil rights champion Dr Martin Luther King Jr on Sunday after he attempted to invoke Dr King’s legacy in order to attack the modern incarnation of the anti-racism movement.

Mr Cruz used Dr King’s name in his own tweet attacking the NAACP, one of America’s oldest and best-known anti-racist institutions.

John Bowden reports.

Martin Luther King’s daughter condemns Ted Cruz over NAACP Florida travel warning

DeSantis to launch 2024 presidential bid on Twitter with Elon Musk

Tuesday 23 May 2023 19:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis will launch his 2024 presidential campaign during a Twitter chat with Elon Musk, according to reports.

The Florida Governor, who is seen as the leading rival to Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, will kick off his bid for the White House during a Wednesday night Twitter Spaces event with the billionaire.

The event will take place at 6pm ET and be moderated by tech entrepreneur David Sacks, who is a supporter of Mr DeSantis and a close business adviser to Mr Musk, according to NBC News.

Graeme Massie reports.

Ron DeSantis to launch 2024 presidential bid on Twitter with Elon Musk

Ron DeSantis teases 2024 bid as he makes subtle dig at Trump

Tuesday 23 May 2023 19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis has teased his expected announcement that he’s putting his hat in the ring for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination as he took a subtle dig at his main rival, former President Donald Trump.

As he pitched the appointment of a seventh right-leaning justice to the Supreme Court, the Florida governor noted how he, if elected president, would be able to run for re-election and spend eight years in the White House, unlike Mr Trump who would only be able to serve one term as he has already spent four years as the commander-in-chief.

Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.

Ron DeSantis teases 2024 bid as he makes subtle dig at Trump

DeSantis to launch 2024 campaign on Twitter onWednesday night

Tuesday 23 May 2023 19:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Per NBC News:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will announce he is running for president during a discussion with Twitter CEO Elon Musk, three sources familiar with the plans told NBC News.

Musk and DeSantis will host an event on Twitter Spaces, the site’s platform for audio chats, on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. It will be moderated by David Sacks, a tech entrepreneur who is a Musk confidant and DeSantis supporter.

That same evening, the campaign will release a launch video, and DeSantis will begin visiting several early states after Memorial Day.

More follows...

DeSantis boasts about ‘quarter century’ of 7-2 conservative Supreme Court majority if he wins in 2024

Tuesday 23 May 2023 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Gov Ron DeSantis predicted that if he were to win the presidency, conservatives could have a 7-2 majority on the Supreme Court for 25 years, according to reports.

The governor and prospective candidate for the Republican nomination for president made the remarks while speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando.

Eric Garcia reports.

DeSantis predicts ‘quarter century’ of 7-2 conservative Supreme Court majority

DeSantis now being tracked by student who kept tabs on Elon Musk’s private jet

Tuesday 23 May 2023 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The college student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet on Twitter has now turned his focus on Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Jack Sweeney, a student at the University of Central Florida, created a Twitter account called “@DeSantisJet”, which tracks the whereabouts of the aircraft that Mr DeSantis uses.

Read more...

College student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet is now following Ron DeSantis

Profile: Casey DeSantis

Tuesday 23 May 2023 18:15 , Oliver O'Connell

As Ron DeSantis prepares to take the national stage, interest will inevitably turn towards his personal life and that of his wife, Casey DeSantis, as prospective US first lady.

Joe Sommerlad profiles the current first lady of Florida.

Who is Casey DeSantis? What we know about Florida governor Ron’s wife

DeSantis outlines vision for growing conservative majority on Supreme Court

Tuesday 23 May 2023 17:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Speaking to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando on Monday night, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for maintaining and even growing the conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

The Washington Post reports that he proposed that should he be elected president and serve two full terms, the number of conservative justices could rise to seven out of the total of nine, indicating that John Roberts (who sometimes sides with the liberal judges) and Sonia Sotomayor may need to be replaced.

“So it is possible that in those eight years, we have the opportunity to fortify justices … Alito and Thomas as well as actually make improvements with those others, and if you were able to do that, you would have a 7-2 conservative majority on the Supreme Court that would last a quarter-century,” Mr DeSantis said to raucous applause.

Democratic groups have described the scenario as “nightmarish”.

DeSantis drops ‘FL’ from Twitter handle as expected 2024 announcement looms

Tuesday 23 May 2023 17:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to have dropped the letters “FL” from his personal Twitter handle and acquired the @RonDeSantis handle from its previous owner.

His team appears to have also dropped the Sunshine State from their handle, becoming @TeamRonDeSantis.

The official announcement of his candidacy is expected this week as he files the paperwork and meets with donors, having already visited many early primary states and embarked on a short international trip.

On Monday, Senator Tim Scott entered the race to be the Republican nominee and got a surprisingly warm welcome from the current leader of the pack Donald Trump (who unsurprisingly also dissed DeSantis in the same post).

DeSantis responds to NAACP call for tourists to boycott Florida

Tuesday 23 May 2023 17:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is brushing off any concern about the NAACP issuing a formal advisory warning travelers that the Sunshine State is “openly hostile” towards Black people, people of colour and LGBT+ people.

The Independent approached Mr DeSantis’ office on Monday about the advisory issued by the largest and oldest civil rights organisation in the United States on 20 May.

Alex Woodward reports.

DeSantis responds to NAACP call for tourists to boycott Florida

Trump bashes DeSantis as he shares surprisingly positive response to another 2024 challenger

Tuesday 23 May 2023 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump took yet another swing at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he welcomed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott to the Republican presidential race.

Read more...

Trump slams DeSantis as he welcomes Tim Scott to presidential race

DeSantis asks that judge be disqualified from Disney's free speech lawsuit

Tuesday 23 May 2023 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Governor Ron DeSantis is asking that a federal judge be disqualified from the First Amendment lawsuit filed by Disney against the Florida governor and his appointees, claiming the jurist’s prior statements in other cases have raised questions about his impartiality on the state’s efforts to take over Disney World’s governing body.

Read more...

DeSantis asks that judge be disqualified from Disney's free speech lawsuit

Trump v DeSantis: a timeline

Tuesday 23 May 2023 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

No one will be watching more keenly than Donald Trump this week as Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally makes the long-awaited announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024.

During his own tenure in the White House in 2018, Mr Trump loudly cheered Mr DeSantis’s bid for the governor’s mansion, throwing his weight behind the former congressman and appearing at rallies to stump for him, playing an important role in the candidate’s narrow defeat of Democratic rival and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum.

Since then, however, a great deal of water has passed beneath the bridge and the two men are now increasingly antagonistic towards each other.

A timeline of Donald Trump’s rivalry with Ron DeSantis

DeSantis anti-LGBT+ laws see wave of Pride events cancelled across Florida

Tuesday 23 May 2023 15:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Pride organisers in Florida have called off events that were to take place during the Pride Month in the wake of the latest anti-LGBT+ laws signed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Organisers based in the town of St Cloud outside Orlando announced on Thursday that they have cancelled the upcoming 10 June event, saying they are aware that it is “unsafe to hold the event”.

Shweta Sharma reports.

Pride events cancelled across Florida due to ‘climate of fear’ after anti-LGBT+ laws

MLK’s daughter condemns Ted Cruz and backs calls for ‘racist’ Florida boycott

Tuesday 23 May 2023 15:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Texas Senator Ted Cruz found himself denounced by the daughter of late civil rights champion Dr Martin Luther King Jr on Sunday after he attempted to invoke Dr King’s legacy in order to attack the modern incarnation of the anti-racism movement.

Mr Cruz used Dr King’s name in his own tweet attacking the NAACP, one of America’s oldest and best-known anti-racist institutions.

John Bowden has the story.

Martin Luther King’s daughter condemns Ted Cruz over NAACP Florida travel warning

Student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet is now following Ron DeSantis

Tuesday 23 May 2023 14:35 , Oliver O'Connell

The college student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet on Twitter has now turned his focus on Florida governor Ron DeSantis.

Jack Sweeney, a student at the University of Central Florida, created a Twitter account called “@DeSantisJet”, which tracks the whereabouts of the aircraft that Mr DeSantis uses.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.

College student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet is now following Ron DeSantis

DeSantis teases 2024 bid – with a swipe at Trump

Tuesday 23 May 2023 14:00 , Rachel Sharp

On Monday, Ron DeSantis teased his 2024 bid while speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando.

In what appeared to be a subtle swipe at Donald Trump he announced his plans to run for eight years – something Mr Trump cannot do after already serving four years.

Mr DeSantis also vowed to “protect” faith and family during the Christian event.

“My first job as governor, after getting sworn in on the steps of the Capitol, was to go back to the governor’s residence … to get our son Mason baptised,” he said.

Trump bashes DeSantis as he shares surprisingly positive response to Scott entering 2024 race

Tuesday 23 May 2023 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump took yet another swing at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he welcomed South Carolina Senator Tim Scott to the Republican presidential race.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

Trump slams DeSantis as he welcomes Tim Scott to presidential race

Trump v DeSantis: A timeline

Tuesday 23 May 2023 12:30 , Oliver O'Connell

No one will be watching more keenly than Donald Trump this week as Florida governor Ron DeSantis finally makes the long-awaited announcement that he will seek the Republican nomination for the presidency in 2024.

During his own tenure in the White House in 2018, Mr Trump loudly cheered Mr DeSantis’s bid for the governor’s mansion, throwing his weight behind the former congressman and appearing at rallies to stump for him, playing an important role in the candidate’s narrow defeat of Democratic rival and Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum.

Since then, however, a great deal of water has passed beneath the bridge and the two men are now increasingly antagonistic towards each other.

Joe Sommerlad reports.

A timeline of Donald Trump’s rivalry with Ron DeSantis

DeSantis responds to NAACP advising against travel to ‘openly hostile’ Florida

Tuesday 23 May 2023 11:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is brushing off any concern about the NAACP issuing a formal advisory warning travelers that the Sunshine State is “openly hostile” towards Black people, people of colour and LGBT+ people.

The Independent approached Mr DeSantis’ office on Monday about the advisory issued by the largest and oldest civil rights organisation in the United States on 20 May.

Alex Woodward reports.

DeSantis responds to NAACP advising against travel to ‘openly hostile’ Florida

South Carolina Republicans hear pitches from 2024 candidates

Tuesday 23 May 2023 09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

South Carolina Republicans on Saturday selected Drew McKissick as their chairman for a fourth term at a convention where some of the party’s 2024 presidential hopefuls made pitches to voters in the first-in-the-South primary state.

McKissick has led the party since 2017 in a state where the GOP holds all statewide-elected positions, all but one U.S. House seat and control of both legislative chambers. He defeated three challengers. Party officials said in a release that under McKissick’s leadership, “more Republicans than ever before” had won election.

South Carolina Republicans hear pitches from 2024 candidates, reelect state party chairman

Profile: Casey DeSantis

Tuesday 23 May 2023 07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Joe Sommerlad writes:

As Mr DeSantis prepares to take the national stage, interest will inevitably turn towards his personal life and that of his wife, Casey DeSantis, as prospective US first lady.

Who is Casey DeSantis? What we know about Florida governor Ron’s wife

Advertisement