DeSantis announces bid for presidency on Twitter as platform struggles to host live feed
WASHINGTON (TND) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has officially announced he is running for president of the United States.
DeSantis, a Republican, shared the news Wednesday on Twitter -- despite a few technical difficulties with the social media platform during a live Q&A.
I'm running for president to lead our Great American Comeback," DeSantis tweeted.
A video accompanied the tweet, with DeSantis saying "our border is a disaster. Crime infests our cities. The federal government makes it harder for families to make ends meet -- and the president flounders. But decline is a choice, success is attainable, and freedom is worth fighting for. Righting this ship requires restoring sanity to our society, normalcy to our communities, and integrity to our institutions. Truth must be our foundation. And common sense can no longer be an uncommon virtue."
"In Florida, we prove that it can be done," he added. "We chose facts over fear, education over indoctrination, law and order over rioting and disorder. We held the line when freedom hung in the balance. We showed that we can -- and must -- revitalize America. We need the courage to lead and the strength to win."
DeSantis' wife, Casey, also posted the video.
"America is worth the fight... Every. Single. Time," she wrote.
DeSantis -- who filed paperwork for his campaign earlier in the day -- discussed his bid for the White House during a live interview on Twitter with Elon Musk, who is the company's CEO, but there were technical issues and glitches with the streaming and sound throughout the interview.
DeSantis did, however, say that he will "be taking the oath of office...no excuses. I will get the job done."
The conversation highlighted free speech, the coronavirus pandemic, health agencies, and more.
DeSantis told Musk that there were issues with free speech amid the coronavirus pandemic, especially on social media. He added that he believes "a major overhaul of the whole enchilada is needed" when speaking of public health agencies response to COVID-19.
"First, we need an honest reckoning about what happened during COVID.... they failed. They instituted bad policies," he said.
Musk agreed and said Twitter is "absolutely committed to freedom of speech."
They also talked about DeSantis' ongoing issues with Disney.
DeSantis said any time the company wanted something, they got it in Florida. He said they were exempt from laws and massive tax breaks but added that he and his team "just didn't feel comfortable maintaining that relationship."
He said he thinks Disney is suing in an attempt to get special privileges.
"Nobody has probably made more money for Disney than me," DeSantis said, as he kept the theme park open during the pandemic.
DeSantis he will face multiple other GOP candidates in a primary race ahead of the general election -- including former president Donald Trump.
Trump announced his campaign for a non-consecutive second presidential term during a speech at his Mar-a-Lago estate in November 2022.
The former president shared multiple posts on his own social media platform "Truth Social" about DeSantis during DeSantis' discussion with Musk. In one post, he called DeSantis "Rob" instead of "Ron," as well as mocked the Q&A session.
"'Rob,' My big Red Button is bigger, better, stronger, and is working (TRUTH!), yours does not! (per my conversation with Kim Jung Un, of North Korea, soon to become my friend!)" Trump wrote.
Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced his bid for the White House on Monday.
"Good luck to Senator Tim Scott in entering the Republican Presidential Primary Race,” Trump previously wrote on Truth Social. “It is rapidly loading up with lots of people, and Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable."
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are also in the race for the GOP nomination.
President Joe Biden, who is currently serving his first term as president and previously served as vice president under former president Barrack Obama, has announced his is running for reelection.
In April, Haley said she thinks it is unlikely Biden would live through a second term.
"The idea that he would make it until 86 years old is not something that I think is likely," Haley previously told Fox.
DeSantis, 44, is serving his second term as governor. He was first elected in 2018.