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RON DeSantis' 2024 presidential campaign announcement has caused Twitter Spaces to crash as viewers flood host Elon Musk's stream.
The Florida governor, 44, was expected to make his announcement as hundreds of thousands of users flocked to hear the GOP candidate's plan for the next four years.
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Viewers waited patiently to hear DeSantis' strategy to fight former president Donald Trump during the chaotic announcement as Twitter's servers continued to crash.
“We’ve got just a massive number of people online,” Elon Musk said amid glitchy silences. “So the servers are straining somewhat.”
The conversation eventually ended after Musk stopped his Twitter Space, but DeSantis' supporters refused to let the situation get them down.
"Twitter Space crashing means tons of people are tuning in to watch," one supporter said.
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"That's a hell of a lot more than Trump had watching his announcement."
A second space was created by moderator and entrepreneur David Sacks that finally allowed DeSantis and the Twitter CEO to chat about the politician's conservative achievements.
The discussion with Musk focused on government overreach during the Covid pandemic, the importance of free speech and debate on platforms like Twitter, and other divisive cultural issues.
Sacks also invited guest speakers like conservative media personality Dana Loesch, Covid lockdown critic Dr Jay Bhattacharya, and activist Christopher Rufo to voice their support for DeSantis and ask him questions about his successes.
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As Twitter Spaces was crashing, DeSantis posted a fiery video officially declaring his candidacy and proclaiming his vision for the country.
He deemed the border crisis a disaster and said crime is running amok under President Joe Biden's floundering leadership.
"But decline is a choice, success is attainable, and freedom is always worth fighting for," DeSantis said in the clip of him taking the stage.
"Truth must be our foundation and common sense can no longer be an uncommon virtue."
DeSantis is now the ninth candidate seeking the Republican nomination, joining Trump, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley in the race.
Former Vice President Mike Pence is also considered a likely presidential candidate but has not yet announced a bid.
DeSantis has become a national figure since being elected as Florida's governor in 2018.
The Iraq War veteran has seen his popularity soar among conservatives nationwide since taking office, partly due to his fierce pushback against Covid pandemic restrictions.
He's argued that his so-called Florida Blueprint can be a model for reshaping the United States, which he says Biden has driven too far left while failing to address inflation and immigration.
However, critics question whether his statewide achievements will successfully translate to a global scale.
Despite the onslaught of judgment, DeSantis continues to center his campaign on past successes to offer hope to anxious Republican voters.
"We held the line when freedom hung in the balance," he said in his announcement video.
"I'm Ron DeSantis and I'm running for president to lead our great American comeback."
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After the Twitter Space concluded, Musk brushed off the affair as scaling challenges and urged any other candidates to discuss their platform while using his.
"All Presidential candidates are most welcome on this platform," he tweeted.