What to Make of Musk's Support for Ron DeSantis in 2024 Election

New Twitter boss Elon Musk said on Twitter over the weekend that he'd support Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) if DeSantis runs for the presidency in 2024. What does that say about Musk's political beliefs?

For Context: Musk, the world's wealthiest person, has a history of supporting and donating to both Republicans and Democrats since he took over Tesla in 2003. In recent years, Musk's positions on free speech and COVID-19 restrictions have aligned more with the political right. He announced his first-ever vote for a Republican in June when he voted for Texas Rep. Mayra Flores in a special election.

Key Quotes: "My preference for the 2024 presidency is someone sensible and centrist," Musk said on Twitter. "I had hoped that would the case for the Biden administration, but have been disappointed so far."

Where People Agree: Voices across the political spectrum acknowledged that Musk is beginning to align more with Republicans, who have largely welcomed the alliance.

Where People Disagree: A Mother Jones writer argued that the tweeted endorsement "is not the same thing as Musk announcing his preferred candidate," and said that though "Musk is moving rightward politically" the reports of his alleged alliance with DeSantis "seem exaggerated." Mother Jones and other left-rated sources, such as the Washington Post (Lean Left bias), also highlighted data suggesting a drop in content moderation on Twitter since Musk took over, framing his ownership of the platform as dangerous.