<p>US Presidential race contender Ron DeSantis has claimed credit for saving lives and&nbsp;limiting the number of hostages&nbsp;militant group Hamas kidnapped during its October 7 attack.</p>

<p>Speaking during the Republican presidential debate, the Florida Governor said that there would've been more hostages if he hadn't stepped in to arrange evacuation for 700 people.</p>

<h2><strong>'We acted, and we saved lives'</strong></h2>

<p>DeSantis claimed that after the initial Hamas attack, there would have been a higher number of hostages. He said that Florida citizens were also under attack and US President Joe Biden "left them stranded".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We had Floridians that were over there after the attack. [Biden] left them stranded. They couldn’t get flights out. I scrambled resources in Florida. I sent planes over to Israel, and I brought back over 700 people to safety. There could've been more hostages had we not acted," said DeSantis.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We acted, and we saved lives," he added.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">GOV. RON DESANTIS ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: "I actually did something about it [...] I sent planes over to Israel, and I brought back over 700 people to safety. There could've been more hostages had we not acted."<br />
<br />
"We acted, and we saved lives." <a href="https://t.co/d0XqUnBnLb">pic.twitter.com/d0XqUnBnLb</a></p>
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/FLVoiceNews/status/1722422748117389782?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>As per The Times of Israel, Hamas militants did not kidnap anyone after the initial October 7 attack. So it is unclear why DeSantis said that the charter flights he helped organise&nbsp;"prevented additional hostages from being taken into Gaza".</p>

<h2><strong>Did the Biden administration abandon citizens?</strong></h2>

<p>The Biden administration arranged a number of charter flights out of Israel for its citizens. These flights started on October 13, chartering Americans from Tel Aviv to Athens.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/your-whole-world-stops-israel-vs-hamas-war-claims-42-members-of-family-youngest-victim-three-month-old-653823">'Your whole world stops': Israel vs Hamas war claims 42 members of a family; youngest victim three-month-old</a></strong></p>

<p>With demands for flights falling sharply, its last planned charter flight, as per a Reuters report, was on Tuesday (Oct 31).</p>

<p>"It is purely a demand issue... We have consistently seen the demand for our charter flights go down," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing on Monday (Oct 30).</p>

<p>Miller also said that the nation will continue to assess the situation and if "circumstances change on the ground" they will see if they "need to make additional arrangements."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


US Presidential race contender Ron DeSantis has claimed credit for saving lives and limiting the number of hostages militant group Hamas kidnapped during its October 7 attack.

US Presidential race contender Ron DeSantis has claimed credit for saving lives and limiting the number of hostages militant group Hamas kidnapped during its October 7 attack. Speaking during the Republican presidential debate, the Florida Governor said that there would've been more hostages if he hadn't stepped in to arrange evacuation for 700 people. 'We acted, and we saved lives' DeSantis claimed that after the initial Hamas attack, there would have been a higher number of hostages. He said that Florida citizens were also under attack and US President Joe Biden "left them stranded". "We had Floridians that were over there after the attack. [Biden] left them stranded. They couldn’t get flights out. I scrambled resources in Florida. I sent planes over to Israel, and I brought back over 700 people to safety. There could've been more hostages had we not acted," said DeSantis. "We acted, and we saved lives," he added. GOV. RON DESANTIS ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: "I actually did something about it [...] I sent planes over to Israel, and I brought back over 700 people to safety. There could've been more hostages had we not acted." "We acted, and we saved lives." pic.twitter.com/d0XqUnBnLb — Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) November 9, 2023 × As per The Times of Israel, Hamas militants did not kidnap anyone after the initial October 7 attack. So it is unclear why DeSantis said that the charter flights he helped organise "prevented additional hostages from being taken into Gaza". Did the Biden administration abandon citizens? The Biden administration arranged a number of charter flights out of Israel for its citizens. These flights started on October 13, chartering Americans from Tel Aviv to Athens. Also read | 'Your whole world stops': Israel vs Hamas war claims 42 members of a family; youngest victim three-month-old With demands for flights falling sharply, its last planned charter flight, as per a Reuters report, was on Tuesday (Oct 31). "It is purely a demand issue... We have consistently seen the demand for our charter flights go down," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller during a press briefing on Monday (Oct 30). Miller also said that the nation will continue to assess the situation and if "circumstances change on the ground" they will see if they "need to make additional arrangements." (With inputs from agencies)

Israel-Hamas war: DeSantis claims he saved Americans stuck in conflict, when Biden 'left them stranded'

<p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis fired his campaign manager on Tuesday as he struggles to close the gap in the US Republican presidential primary on runaway frontrunner Donald Trump.</p>

<p>James Uthmeier, the candidate's longtime chief of staff in his day job in Tallahassee, replaces&nbsp;Generra Peck -- the latest of a number of unofficial campaign reboots with the candidate languishing almost 40 points behind Trump in polling averages.</p>

<p>The shake-up comes in the wake of DeSantis firing more than a third of his staffers, with aides acknowledging overspending amid a series of negative headlines over the 44-year-old governor's hardline right wing policies and awkwardness with voters.</p>

<p>Uthmeier joins the team alongside a second appointment, longtime Iowa Republican operative David Polyansky, as DeSantis and his rivals hope for a breakout moment in the first debate on August 23, which Trump has suggested he may skip. Peck will stay on as a strategist.</p>

<p>"We are excited about these additions as we continue to spread the governor's message across the country. It's time to reverse our nation's decline and revive America's future," said DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo.</p>

<p>DeSantis used his first network television interview of the campaign on Monday to go further than he has before in criticizing the frontrunner, explicitly rejecting Trump's false claims of voter fraud in the last election.</p>

<p>The majority of Republican primary voters believe wrongly that Trump won the last election, and bolstering the former president's false claims of fraud had become a litmus test for those hoping to rise in the party ranks.</p>

<p>The governor said the last election had not been perfect, but he dismissed the former president's allegations of foul play by President Joe Biden's Democrats.</p>

<p>The twice-impeached Trump has been indicted over his efforts to overturn the election that culminated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol.</p>

<p>The case is the most serious of four criminal probes that have yielded dozens of felony charges, including allegations that the 77-year-old billionaire endangered national security by storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago beach resort in Florida.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Florida Governor Ron DeSantis fired his campaign manager on Tuesday as he struggles to close the gap in the US Republican presidential primary on runaway frontrunner Donald Trump.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis fired his campaign manager on Tuesday as he struggles to close the gap in the US Republican presidential primary on runaway frontrunner Donald Trump. James Uthmeier, the candidate's longtime chief of staff in his day job in Tallahassee, replaces Generra Peck -- the latest of a number of unofficial campaign reboots with the candidate languishing almost 40 points behind Trump in polling averages. The shake-up comes in the wake of DeSantis firing more than a third of his staffers, with aides acknowledging overspending amid a series of negative headlines over the 44-year-old governor's hardline right wing policies and awkwardness with voters. Uthmeier joins the team alongside a second appointment, longtime Iowa Republican operative David Polyansky, as DeSantis and his rivals hope for a breakout moment in the first debate on August 23, which Trump has suggested he may skip. Peck will stay on as a strategist. "We are excited about these additions as we continue to spread the governor's message across the country. It's time to reverse our nation's decline and revive America's future," said DeSantis spokesman Andrew Romeo. DeSantis used his first network television interview of the campaign on Monday to go further than he has before in criticizing the frontrunner, explicitly rejecting Trump's false claims of voter fraud in the last election. The majority of Republican primary voters believe wrongly that Trump won the last election, and bolstering the former president's false claims of fraud had become a litmus test for those hoping to rise in the party ranks. The governor said the last election had not been perfect, but he dismissed the former president's allegations of foul play by President Joe Biden's Democrats. The twice-impeached Trump has been indicted over his efforts to overturn the election that culminated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol. The case is the most serious of four criminal probes that have yielded dozens of felony charges, including allegations that the 77-year-old billionaire endangered national security by storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago beach resort in Florida. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Struggling US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis sacks campaign chief

<p>Florida Governor and Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis was involved in a car crash in Tennessee on Tuesday (July 25).</p>

<p>He was en route to an event in Chattanooga in the morning when the incident took place.</p>

<p>"This morning, the governor was in a car accident while travelling to an event in Chattanooga, Tennessee," Press Secretary Bryan Griffin told Fox News in a statement. "He and his team are uninjured,” Griffin said, but did not specify how many staff were there in the vehicle.</p>

<p>“We appreciate the prayers and well wishes of the nation for his continued protection while on the campaign trail,” Griffin added.</p>

<h2><strong>DeSantis unhurt</strong></h2>

<p>DeSantis is continuing on to his event, spokesman Andrew Romeo told AP news agency.</p>

<p>The 44-year-old Republican candidate is scheduled to hold events throughout central and eastern Tennessee, as he has been focusing a lot of attention in his recent campaigning.</p>

<p>Earlier this month, he addressed more than 1,800 attendees at a state GOP dinner in Nashville.</p>

<p>DeSantis announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential primary In May this year through Twitter Spaces, joined by the platform’s CEO Elon Musk.</p>

<p>However, his entry encountered with technical difficulties when Twitter's servers apparently could not handle the surge in traffic.</p>

<p>The interview, which was intended to serve as the formal launch of DeSantis' campaign, suffered from intermittent sound issues.</p>

<h2><strong>Doing string of campaigns&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>DeSantis is considered the main challenger of former president Donald Trump&nbsp;for the 2024 Republican contest.</p>

<p>He has been attending a string of fundraisers lately as his campaign has faced some surprising financial pressures, reports AP news agency.</p>

<p>During the weakened, he was in Utah holding fundraisers and in New York last week for an event in the Hamptons.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-removes-qin-gang-appoints-wang-yi-as-new-foreign-minister-in-surprise-shake-up-619269">China sacks 'missing' Qin Gang as foreign minister, reinstates Wang Yi</a></p>

<p>Fox News, quoting DeSantis’ campaign staff, reported that the money had been spent on unsuccessful operations and that Team DeSantis would run a leaner, "insurgent" type campaign going forward.</p>

<p>"Something needs to change and there needs to be a new ignition," a leading DeSantis donor told Fox News.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-plane-fighting-wildfires-in-greece-crashes-burst-into-flames-619338">Watch | Plane fighting wildfires in Greece crashes, burst into flames</a></p>

<p>In the first six weeks of his campaign, DeSantis raised an impressive $20.1 million, however nearly half – $8.2 million – came in the first 24 hours after DeSantis declared his candidacy.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Florida Governor and Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis was involved in a car crash in Tennessee on Tuesday (July 25). He was en route to an event in Chattanooga in the morning when the incident took place.

Florida Governor and Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis was involved in a car crash in Tennessee on Tuesday (July 25). He was en route to an event in Chattanooga in the morning when the incident took place. "This morning, the governor was in a car accident while travelling to an event in Chattanooga, Tennessee," Press Secretary Bryan Griffin told Fox News in a statement. "He and his team are uninjured,” Griffin said, but did not specify how many staff were there in the vehicle. “We appreciate the prayers and well wishes of the nation for his continued protection while on the campaign trail,” Griffin added. DeSantis unhurt DeSantis is continuing on to his event, spokesman Andrew Romeo told AP news agency. The 44-year-old Republican candidate is scheduled to hold events throughout central and eastern Tennessee, as he has been focusing a lot of attention in his recent campaigning. Earlier this month, he addressed more than 1,800 attendees at a state GOP dinner in Nashville. DeSantis announced his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential primary In May this year through Twitter Spaces, joined by the platform’s CEO Elon Musk. However, his entry encountered with technical difficulties when Twitter's servers apparently could not handle the surge in traffic. The interview, which was intended to serve as the formal launch of DeSantis' campaign, suffered from intermittent sound issues. Doing string of campaigns DeSantis is considered the main challenger of former president Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican contest. He has been attending a string of fundraisers lately as his campaign has faced some surprising financial pressures, reports AP news agency. During the weakened, he was in Utah holding fundraisers and in New York last week for an event in the Hamptons. Also read | China sacks 'missing' Qin Gang as foreign minister, reinstates Wang Yi Fox News, quoting DeSantis’ campaign staff, reported that the money had been spent on unsuccessful operations and that Team DeSantis would run a leaner, "insurgent" type campaign going forward. "Something needs to change and there needs to be a new ignition," a leading DeSantis donor told Fox News. Also read | Watch | Plane fighting wildfires in Greece crashes, burst into flames In the first six weeks of his campaign, DeSantis raised an impressive $20.1 million, however nearly half – $8.2 million – came in the first 24 hours after DeSantis declared his candidacy. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Florida Governor and Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis involved in car accident

<p>Republican presidential frontrunner and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis began implementing more than 200 new laws this week amid his intensified political campaign for the White House. The new laws address immigration and expanded access to guns, and have resulted in a strong reaction from neighbouring Mexico.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><b>DeSantis throws focus on illegal&nbsp;immigration</b></h2>

<p>The top focus of new laws is illegal immigration. The new laws&nbsp;specify stringent penalties for employers who hire immigrants residing in the United States illegally.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The new law mandates that any company with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of newly hired individuals to work in the United States. Failure to comply could result in the revocation of their business license or fines of $1,000 per day per employee.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-ron-desantis-all-you-need-to-know-about-republican-leader-seeking-prez-nomination-595578">Who is Ron DeSantis? All you need to know about Republican leader who joined White House race</a></strong></p>

<p>Additionally, hospitals accepting Medicaid will be required to inquire about patients' citizenship or legal status in the United States. Furthermore, the law invalidates driver's licenses issued by other states for individuals residing in the country illegally.</p>

<p>The legislation introduces additional worker verification requirements, among other provisions.</p>

<p>DeSantis has vowed to complete the Mexican border wall that was promised by former president Donald Trump.</p>

<p>DeSantis' focus on illegal immigration aligns with Trump's border policies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>These policies were crucial in DeSantis' successful bid for the governorship in 2018.</p>

<h2><strong>Expansion of gun rights</strong></h2>

<p>A new law that was enforced on July 1&nbsp;allows individuals legally permitted to own firearms to carry them concealed in public without a permit.</p>

<p>While concealed weapon&nbsp;permits will still be available, those choosing to carry without one will not be subjected to background checks or training.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Controversial U.S. Immigration policy Title 42 ends</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-controversial-us-immigration-policy-title-42-ends-591463/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Another newly enacted law prohibits credit card companies from monitoring gun and ammunition purchases to prevent potential profiling of individuals making large transactions.</p>

<h2><strong>Mexico reacts</strong></h2>

<p>Mexico's government on Saturday slammed Florida's new laws and vowed to help protect undocumented Mexicans in that state.</p>

<p>Mexico's foreign ministry in a statement said that provisions could prompt discrimination and racial profiling, and give rise to hate crimes.</p>

<p>"Criminalisation is not the way to resolve the phenomenon of undocumented migration," the ministry said, describing the new measures as driven by xenophobia and white nationalism.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1  width=&quot;100%&quot;"></iframe></p>


Republican presidential frontrunner and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis began implementing more than 200 new laws this week amid his intensified political campaign for the White House.

Republican presidential frontrunner and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis began implementing more than 200 new laws this week amid his intensified political campaign for the White House. The new laws address immigration and expanded access to guns, and have resulted in a strong reaction from neighbouring Mexico. DeSantis throws focus on illegal immigration The top focus of new laws is illegal immigration. The new laws specify stringent penalties for employers who hire immigrants residing in the United States illegally. The new law mandates that any company with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify to confirm the eligibility of newly hired individuals to work in the United States. Failure to comply could result in the revocation of their business license or fines of $1,000 per day per employee. Also read | Who is Ron DeSantis? All you need to know about Republican leader who joined White House race Additionally, hospitals accepting Medicaid will be required to inquire about patients' citizenship or legal status in the United States. Furthermore, the law invalidates driver's licenses issued by other states for individuals residing in the country illegally. The legislation introduces additional worker verification requirements, among other provisions. DeSantis has vowed to complete the Mexican border wall that was promised by former president Donald Trump. DeSantis' focus on illegal immigration aligns with Trump's border policies. These policies were crucial in DeSantis' successful bid for the governorship in 2018. Expansion of gun rights A new law that was enforced on July 1 allows individuals legally permitted to own firearms to carry them concealed in public without a permit. While concealed weapon permits will still be available, those choosing to carry without one will not be subjected to background checks or training. Also watch | Gravitas: Controversial U.S. Immigration policy Title 42 ends × Another newly enacted law prohibits credit card companies from monitoring gun and ammunition purchases to prevent potential profiling of individuals making large transactions. Mexico reacts Mexico's government on Saturday slammed Florida's new laws and vowed to help protect undocumented Mexicans in that state. Mexico's foreign ministry in a statement said that provisions could prompt discrimination and racial profiling, and give rise to hate crimes. "Criminalisation is not the way to resolve the phenomenon of undocumented migration," the ministry said, describing the new measures as driven by xenophobia and white nationalism. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mexico reacts as Ron DeSantis-backed new Florida laws target illegal immigration

<p>Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will announce his 2024 US presidential bid on Wednesday (May 24) during a live Twitter event with Elon Musk, news agency AFP reported citing a source familiar with his plans. DeSantis is the leading Republican rival to Donald Trump.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Twitter CEO Musk spoke via video link about the upcoming interview with DeSantis. He said, "We'll be interviewing Ron DeSantis, and he has quite an announcement to make and it will be the very first time that something like this is happening on social media and with real-time questions and answers, not scripted. So it's going to be live and let it rip. Let's see what happens."&nbsp;</p>

<h2><br />
Want X/Twitter being like public town square: Musk</h2>

<p>"I'm not at this time going to endorse any particular candidate, but I am interested in X/Twitter being somewhat of a public town square," Musk added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"And I do think it's important that Twitter has&nbsp;both the reality and the perception of a level playing field of a place where all voices are heard and where there's the kind of dynamic interaction that you don't really see anywhere else," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"My preference and I think the preference of most Americans is really to have someone fairly normal in office. But I think we'd all be quite, quite happy with that, actually. You know, I think someone that is representative of the moderate views that I think most country holds, in reality," he further noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch this report:</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/florida-governor-ron-desantis-to-official-enter-us-presidential-race-next-week-593686/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The news was first reported by NBC News and the report mentioned that the announcement is apparently scheduled to take place at 6:00pm ET on Twitter Spaces.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The event is said to be moderated by tech entrepreneur David Sacks and the report mentioned that the users of the micro-blogging site can participate in audio conversations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The campaign will release a launch video that evening, and DeSantis will begin touring several early states after Memorial Day.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It's unclear whether Musk would publicly endorse DeSantis on Wednesday, NBC News reported citing another source that his presence is seen as a clear indicator of support for DeSantis among staff.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Ron DeSantis?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Last November, the 44-year-old DeSantis defeated Democratic candidate Charlie Crist by over 20 percentage points with 98% of the projected vote counted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He has enraged former president Donald Trump, who even dubbed him "Ron De-Sanctimonious". President Joe Biden referred to DeSantis as "Donald Trump incarnate" in his harshest remarks yet against the governor. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-ron-desantis-all-you-need-to-know-about-republican-leader-seeking-prez-nomination-595578">Click Here to read the profile of Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will announce his 2024 US presidential bid on Wednesday (May 24) during a live Twitter event with Elon Musk, news agency AFP reported citing a source familiar with his plans.

Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will announce his 2024 US presidential bid on Wednesday (May 24) during a live Twitter event with Elon Musk, news agency AFP reported citing a source familiar with his plans. DeSantis is the leading Republican rival to Donald Trump. Twitter CEO Musk spoke via video link about the upcoming interview with DeSantis. He said, "We'll be interviewing Ron DeSantis, and he has quite an announcement to make and it will be the very first time that something like this is happening on social media and with real-time questions and answers, not scripted. So it's going to be live and let it rip. Let's see what happens." Want X/Twitter being like public town square: Musk "I'm not at this time going to endorse any particular candidate, but I am interested in X/Twitter being somewhat of a public town square," Musk added. "And I do think it's important that Twitter has both the reality and the perception of a level playing field of a place where all voices are heard and where there's the kind of dynamic interaction that you don't really see anywhere else," he added. "My preference and I think the preference of most Americans is really to have someone fairly normal in office. But I think we'd all be quite, quite happy with that, actually. You know, I think someone that is representative of the moderate views that I think most country holds, in reality," he further noted. Watch this report: × The news was first reported by NBC News and the report mentioned that the announcement is apparently scheduled to take place at 6:00pm ET on Twitter Spaces. The event is said to be moderated by tech entrepreneur David Sacks and the report mentioned that the users of the micro-blogging site can participate in audio conversations. The campaign will release a launch video that evening, and DeSantis will begin touring several early states after Memorial Day. It's unclear whether Musk would publicly endorse DeSantis on Wednesday, NBC News reported citing another source that his presence is seen as a clear indicator of support for DeSantis among staff. Who is Ron DeSantis? Last November, the 44-year-old DeSantis defeated Democratic candidate Charlie Crist by over 20 percentage points with 98% of the projected vote counted. He has enraged former president Donald Trump, who even dubbed him "Ron De-Sanctimonious". President Joe Biden referred to DeSantis as "Donald Trump incarnate" in his harshest remarks yet against the governor. Click Here to read the profile of Ron DeSantis (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ron DeSantis to announce 2024 US presidential bid on Twitter with Elon Musk by his side

<p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is all set to announce his run for the Republican presidential nomination this week. This will put him in a head-to-head competition with Donald Trump. As DeSantis makes headlines with his probable announcement, so has his wife, Casey DeSantis.</p>

<p>Many believe Casey had played a prominent role in DeSantis’ bid for the 2024 presidential election. But now, as DeSantis prepares to run for president, some say the extent of his wife’s involvement is a problem. One of&nbsp;DeSantis's donors and supporters revealed to Politico Magazine that “She&nbsp;is both his biggest asset and his biggest liability.”</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-south-korea-announce-new-north-korea-sanctions-on-it-workers-595993">US, South Korea announce new North Korea sanctions on IT workers</a></p>

<p>Casey DeSantis was born in June 1980 in Ohio as the second child of Robert Black. Her father, Robert was an optometrist and former officer in the US Air Force. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a minor in French.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Casey DeSantis: From newsroom to political arena</strong></h2>

<p>Casey is no stranger to the national stage. She had been a famous television news reporter and commentator in the Sunshine State for years. In her early career, she hosted the Golf Channel program ‘On The Tee’ and ‘PGA Tour Today’. She held several positions there, from being a general assignment reporter to morning anchor, and then a police reporter, She also did special reports for CNN.</p>

<p>In February 2019, Casey established the First Lady’s Medal for Courage, Commitment, and Service. Soon after this, she announced Florida’s 2019 Black History Month theme as ‘Celebrating Public Service’ where she and her husband honoured the winners of Florida’s Black History Month student contests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Watch |&nbsp;<strong>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to officially enter US presidential race next week</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/florida-governor-ron-desantis-to-official-enter-us-presidential-race-next-week-593686/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>She participated in a Recovery Redfish Release to address the impacts of red tide. "I've heard from those throughout Florida who understand that our water must be safe for our families, visitors and economy,” she said at the address.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In August 2019, Casey presided over the first meeting of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet as its chair.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Casey and DeSantis’s 'ironic' wedding at Walt Disney World Resort</strong></h2>

<p>Casey met Ron DeSantis on a golf course, at a time when DeSantis was a naval officer at Naval Station Mayport. They married on September 26, 2009, at Walt Disney World Resort which has been considered ‘kind of ironic' as per Gov. DeSantis in the wake of his battle with the company over the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act.</p>

<p>They have three children together, two daughters and a son.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Casey has been with DeSantis every step of the way, from launching a bid for the US House of Representatives, the US Senate to the governor’s mansion. She also appeared in his TV ads, accompanied him on foreign trips, introduced him at speaking events and is said to have “looped in on every email and calendar invite” that goes to the governor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-95-year-old-woman-allegedly-tasered-by-police-in-care-home-dies-595995">Australia: 95-year-old woman, allegedly tasered by police in care home, dies</a></p>

<p>In March 2022, five months after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she revealed that she was now cancer-free.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ensuing weeks saw her feature prominently on the campaign trail, including via a tearful video tribute to her husband who she said "was there to fight for me when I didn't have the strength to fight for myself".</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is all set to announce his run for the Republican presidential nomination this week. This will put him in a head-to-head competition with Donald Trump.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is all set to announce his run for the Republican presidential nomination this week. This will put him in a head-to-head competition with Donald Trump. As DeSantis makes headlines with his probable announcement, so has his wife, Casey DeSantis. Many believe Casey had played a prominent role in DeSantis’ bid for the 2024 presidential election. But now, as DeSantis prepares to run for president, some say the extent of his wife’s involvement is a problem. One of DeSantis's donors and supporters revealed to Politico Magazine that “She is both his biggest asset and his biggest liability.” Also Read | US, South Korea announce new North Korea sanctions on IT workers Casey DeSantis was born in June 1980 in Ohio as the second child of Robert Black. Her father, Robert was an optometrist and former officer in the US Air Force. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a minor in French. Casey DeSantis: From newsroom to political arena Casey is no stranger to the national stage. She had been a famous television news reporter and commentator in the Sunshine State for years. In her early career, she hosted the Golf Channel program ‘On The Tee’ and ‘PGA Tour Today’. She held several positions there, from being a general assignment reporter to morning anchor, and then a police reporter, She also did special reports for CNN. In February 2019, Casey established the First Lady’s Medal for Courage, Commitment, and Service. Soon after this, she announced Florida’s 2019 Black History Month theme as ‘Celebrating Public Service’ where she and her husband honoured the winners of Florida’s Black History Month student contests. Watch | Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to officially enter US presidential race next week × She participated in a Recovery Redfish Release to address the impacts of red tide. "I've heard from those throughout Florida who understand that our water must be safe for our families, visitors and economy,” she said at the address. In August 2019, Casey presided over the first meeting of the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet as its chair. Casey and DeSantis’s 'ironic' wedding at Walt Disney World Resort Casey met Ron DeSantis on a golf course, at a time when DeSantis was a naval officer at Naval Station Mayport. They married on September 26, 2009, at Walt Disney World Resort which has been considered ‘kind of ironic' as per Gov. DeSantis in the wake of his battle with the company over the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act. They have three children together, two daughters and a son. Casey has been with DeSantis every step of the way, from launching a bid for the US House of Representatives, the US Senate to the governor’s mansion. She also appeared in his TV ads, accompanied him on foreign trips, introduced him at speaking events and is said to have “looped in on every email and calendar invite” that goes to the governor. Also Read | Australia: 95-year-old woman, allegedly tasered by police in care home, dies In March 2022, five months after being diagnosed with breast cancer, she revealed that she was now cancer-free. The ensuing weeks saw her feature prominently on the campaign trail, including via a tearful video tribute to her husband who she said "was there to fight for me when I didn't have the strength to fight for myself". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who is Casey DeSantis? Wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis who could become America's next first lady

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidqmp620irJTeJ" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Even though the US presidential election is more than a year away, the race to be a Democrat or Republican nominee is heating up. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis became the latest politician to announce his presidential run. <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ron-desantis-to-announce-2024-us-presidential-bid-alongside-elon-musk-595727">DeSantis, a Republican, will announce his presidential run</a></strong> on Wednesday (May 24) during a Twitter Spaces discussion with billionaire Elon Musk.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the event would be hosted at 6 pm ET (22.00 GMT) and the session will be moderated by tech entrepreneur David Sacks, a Musk confidant.</p>

<p>This is the first time that such an announcement is being made on social media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This event has renewed a debate about Elon Musk's political leanings. It has also raised whether Twitter will no more be a neutral arbiter, and whether will it take sides with the DeSantis link.</p>

<h2><strong>Is Elon Musk a Republican?</strong></h2>

<p>For a long time, people have questioned Elon Musk's political views. Musk, the world's richest man and the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter, has had mixed political leanings. In the previous US presidential election in 2020, Musk said that he voted for Joe Biden. However, nearly two years later, Musk expressed support for the Republicans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His tweet from May 2022 is the proof, "In the past, I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party. But they have become the party of division and hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>This tweet came after months of criticising President Joe Biden, which included hammering of his flagship infrastructure and social spending bills for granting subsidies to the electric car industry and increasing the federal budget deficit, as per a report by The Independent on December 14 last year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk also called Biden a "damp sock puppet in human form" after the American president left Tesla out of a discussion regarding domestic electric vehicle (EV) production.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">In the past I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party.<br />
<br />
But they have become the party of division &amp; hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.<br />
<br />
Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold … 🍿</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1526997132858822658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>In June 2022, Musk revealed that he voted for Republican congressional candidate Maya Flores in a special election.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Musk has had a tumultuous relationship with former US president and Republican Donald Trump. However, in recent times, there seems an improvement. Donald Trump lauded Musk's takeover of Twitter last year by saying the social media giant was "in sane hands."</p>

<p>Musk, on the other hand, reinstated Trump's Twitter handle and told the Financial Times that the ban was a "morally bad decision" and foolish to the extreme. Trump was removed from Twitter following the 2021 Capitol Hill riots.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The above details do point out that Musk has a Republican-leaning. But he said on Tuesday that he would not endorse any candidate at this time. "My preference and I think the preference of most Americans is really to have someone fairly normal in office. But I think we'd all be quite, quite happy with that, actually. You know, I think someone that is representative of the moderate views that I think most country holds, in reality," he told the Wall Street Journal.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the story doesn't end here.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Musk's support for DeSantis in 2024</strong></h2>

<p>On November 26 last year, nearly a month after he became the boss of Twitter, Musk tweeted that he was a significant supporter of the Obama-Biden presidency and "(reluctantly) voted for Biden over Trump."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">As a reminder, I was a significant supporter of the Obama-Biden presidency and (reluctantly) voted for Biden over Trump</p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1596314365443026945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"But freedom of speech is the bedrock of a strong democracy and must take precedence. My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist. I had hoped that would the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far," Musk added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On being asked if he would support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis if he ran for president, Musk replied, "Yes." This came months after Musk said that DeSantis would easily defeat Biden in the election.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Twitter – an opportunity for DeSantis</strong></h2>

<p>Though it is not yet known what exactly would Floridan Governor Ron DeSantis reveal in his announcement of his presidential run, the hosting of the event on Twitter spaces is an opportunity for the Republican. Firstly, Twitter has a vast number of active users which could potentially give DeSantis' campaign more publicity. And secondly, Elon Musk's fan base would add to the Florida Governor's popularity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And for his part, Musk sees the event as a coup, according to a report by BBC on Wednesday. Musk wants big moments like this to be broadcast live on Twitter and he is particularly interested in Twitter Spaces, where millions of people can tune into an interview.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We'll be interviewing Ron DeSantis, and he has quite an announcement to make and it will be the very first time that something like this is happening on social media and with real-time questions and answers, not scripted. So it's going to be live and let it rip. Let's see what happens," Musk told the WSJ on Tuesday.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


Even though the US presidential election is more than a year away, the race to be a Democrat or Republican nominee is heating up. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis became the latest politician to announce his presidential run.

Even though the US presidential election is more than a year away, the race to be a Democrat or Republican nominee is heating up. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis became the latest politician to announce his presidential run. DeSantis, a Republican, will announce his presidential run on Wednesday (May 24) during a Twitter Spaces discussion with billionaire Elon Musk. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, the event would be hosted at 6 pm ET (22.00 GMT) and the session will be moderated by tech entrepreneur David Sacks, a Musk confidant. This is the first time that such an announcement is being made on social media. This event has renewed a debate about Elon Musk's political leanings. It has also raised whether Twitter will no more be a neutral arbiter, and whether will it take sides with the DeSantis link. Is Elon Musk a Republican? For a long time, people have questioned Elon Musk's political views. Musk, the world's richest man and the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter, has had mixed political leanings. In the previous US presidential election in 2020, Musk said that he voted for Joe Biden. However, nearly two years later, Musk expressed support for the Republicans. His tweet from May 2022 is the proof, "In the past, I voted Democrat, because they were (mostly) the kindness party. But they have become the party of division and hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican.” This tweet came after months of criticising President Joe Biden, which included hammering of his flagship infrastructure and social spending bills for granting subsidies to the electric car industry and increasing the federal budget deficit, as per a report by The Independent on December 14 last year. Musk also called Biden a "damp sock puppet in human form" after the American president left Tesla out of a discussion regarding domestic electric vehicle (EV) production. In the past I voted Democrat, 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. Now, watch their dirty tricks campaign against me unfold … 🍿 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 18, 2022 × In June 2022, Musk revealed that he voted for Republican congressional candidate Maya Flores in a special election. Musk has had a tumultuous relationship with former US president and Republican Donald Trump. However, in recent times, there seems an improvement. Donald Trump lauded Musk's takeover of Twitter last year by saying the social media giant was "in sane hands." Musk, on the other hand, reinstated Trump's Twitter handle and told the Financial Times that the ban was a "morally bad decision" and foolish to the extreme. Trump was removed from Twitter following the 2021 Capitol Hill riots. The above details do point out that Musk has a Republican-leaning. But he said on Tuesday that he would not endorse any candidate at this time. "My preference and I think the preference of most Americans is really to have someone fairly normal in office. But I think we'd all be quite, quite happy with that, actually. You know, I think someone that is representative of the moderate views that I think most country holds, in reality," he told the Wall Street Journal. However, the story doesn't end here. Musk's support for DeSantis in 2024 On November 26 last year, nearly a month after he became the boss of Twitter, Musk tweeted that he was a significant supporter of the Obama-Biden presidency and "(reluctantly) voted for Biden over Trump." As a reminder, I was a significant supporter of the Obama-Biden presidency and (reluctantly) voted for Biden over Trump — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 26, 2022 × "But freedom of speech is the bedrock of a strong democracy and must take precedence. My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist. I had hoped that would the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far," Musk added. On being asked if he would support Florida Governor Ron DeSantis if he ran for president, Musk replied, "Yes." This came months after Musk said that DeSantis would easily defeat Biden in the election. Twitter – an opportunity for DeSantis Though it is not yet known what exactly would Floridan Governor Ron DeSantis reveal in his announcement of his presidential run, the hosting of the event on Twitter spaces is an opportunity for the Republican. Firstly, Twitter has a vast number of active users which could potentially give DeSantis' campaign more publicity. And secondly, Elon Musk's fan base would add to the Florida Governor's popularity. And for his part, Musk sees the event as a coup, according to a report by BBC on Wednesday. Musk wants big moments like this to be broadcast live on Twitter and he is particularly interested in Twitter Spaces, where millions of people can tune into an interview. "We'll be interviewing Ron DeSantis, and he has quite an announcement to make and it will be the very first time that something like this is happening on social media and with real-time questions and answers, not scripted. So it's going to be live and let it rip. Let's see what happens," Musk told the WSJ on Tuesday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Is Elon Musk a Republican? Will Twitter take sides with Ron DeSantis link?

<p>The Ukrainian government has invited&nbsp;Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit the war-torn country after he called Russia's offensive a "territorial dispute." Taking to Twitter on Tuesday (March 14), Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson&nbsp;Oleg Nikolenko criticised&nbsp;DeSantis' remarks and invited the Republican leader.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor DeSantis knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests,"&nbsp;Nikolenko tweeted.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Monday, Ron&nbsp;DeSantis said that protecting Ukraine was not vital for the United States. DeSantis, a likely presidential candidate for 2024, said that Washington had many vital national interests" but that "becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them."</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDeSantisFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonDeSantisFL</a> knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests <a href="https://t.co/BLLam9G8lV">https://t.co/BLLam9G8lV</a></p>
— Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlegNikolenko_/status/1635707773806575624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>"The Biden administration's virtual 'blank check' funding of this conflict for 'as long as it takes,' without any defined objectives or accountability, distracts from our country's most pressing challenges," the Florida governor added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This position taken by DeSantis contrasts with his more hawkish record on Ukraine while he was in Congress when he supported military aid for Ukraine after Moscow's annexing of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the news agency AFP reported on Tuesday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He had also backed a resolution pressuring then-US president Barack Obama to provide weapons to help Kyiv "defend their sovereign territory from the unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation."</p>

<p>Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in February last year, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $110 billion in economic and military aid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ryan Williams, a Republican strategist argued that prioritising funding for domestic issues over foreign adventures resonated&nbsp;with war-weary party supporters. But on the other hand, have long said defending Ukraine is in the best interests of Washington.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>

<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>


The Ukrainian government has invited Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit the war-torn country after he called Russia's offensive a "territorial dispute." Taking to Twitter on Tuesday (March 14), Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko criticised DeSantis' remarks and invited the Republican leader.

The Ukrainian government has invited Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit the war-torn country after he called Russia's offensive a "territorial dispute." Taking to Twitter on Tuesday (March 14), Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko criticised DeSantis' remarks and invited the Republican leader. "We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor DeSantis knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests," Nikolenko tweeted. On Monday, Ron DeSantis said that protecting Ukraine was not vital for the United States. DeSantis, a likely presidential candidate for 2024, said that Washington had many vital national interests" but that "becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them." We are sure that as a former military officer deployed to a combat zone, Governor @RonDeSantisFL knows the difference between a ‘dispute’ and war. We invite him to visit Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the threats it poses to US interests https://t.co/BLLam9G8lV — Oleg Nikolenko (@OlegNikolenko_) March 14, 2023 × "The Biden administration's virtual 'blank check' funding of this conflict for 'as long as it takes,' without any defined objectives or accountability, distracts from our country's most pressing challenges," the Florida governor added. This position taken by DeSantis contrasts with his more hawkish record on Ukraine while he was in Congress when he supported military aid for Ukraine after Moscow's annexing of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, the news agency AFP reported on Tuesday. He had also backed a resolution pressuring then-US president Barack Obama to provide weapons to help Kyiv "defend their sovereign territory from the unprovoked and continuing aggression of the Russian Federation." Since the beginning of the Russian offensive in February last year, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $110 billion in economic and military aid. Ryan Williams, a Republican strategist argued that prioritising funding for domestic issues over foreign adventures resonated with war-weary party supporters. But on the other hand, have long said defending Ukraine is in the best interests of Washington. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ukraine invites Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to visit after he called Russian invasion ‘territorial dispute’

According to a survey, most Republican voters prefer Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as their 2024 presidential nominee over Trump.Watch this video to know more.

Republicans prefer Ron DeSantis over Donald Trump in new opinion poll