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Who is Ron DeSantis?

02:39

Who is Ron DeSantis? Potential challenger to Donald Trump in 2024

Ron DeSantis has officially announced he will run for US president.

The Florida Governor officially entered the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday, after months of speculation. But the hotly anticipated event, hosted on Twitter Spaces, crashed several times, with Elon Musk saying the servers appeared to be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people trying to listen.

The 44-year-old Republican politician was first considered a potential candidate for the GOP presidential nomination after emerging from the pandemic as a hard-line conservative leader.

Here the Independent looks at the man behind the candidacy.

Up next

Walz believes Trump ‘probably will’ concede election if he loses

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Walz believes Trump ‘probably will’ concede election if he loses

Whoopi Goldberg sends warning to parents over Trump on election day

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Whoopi Goldberg sends warning to parents over Trump on election day

Melania wears sunglasses as she joins husband to vote in 2024 election

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Melania wears sunglasses as she joins husband to vote in 2024 election

Elmo chimes in to US election with advice to children

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Elmo chimes in to US election with advice to children

Editor’s Picks

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On the run with Ammon Bundy

The A-Word | An Independent TV Documentary

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The A-Word | An Independent TV Documentary

Kemi Badenoch discusses how she’ll stand her ground if elected

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Kemi Badenoch discusses how she’ll stand her ground if elected

Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

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Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

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Travel Smart

Discovering the secrets of Jordan with our TravelSmart guide

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Discovering the secrets of Jordan with our TravelSmart guide

TravelSmart’s guide to the Caribbean islands

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TravelSmart’s guide to the Caribbean islands

Why North Africa is our destination top pick for 2024/25

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Why North Africa is our destination top pick for 2024/25

City breaks that won’t break the bank

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City breaks that won’t break the bank

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That Dress

How Jennifer Lopez inspired Google Images

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How Jennifer Lopez inspired Google Images

How Diana’s revenge dress signalled a turning point in her life

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How Diana’s revenge dress signalled a turning point in her life

How Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress was the look of Cool Britannia

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How Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress was the look of Cool Britannia

The story of Kate Moss’s sheer dress | That Dress

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The story of Kate Moss’s sheer dress | That Dress

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Binge Watch

Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

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Himesh Patel rolls with the laughs on HBO’s The Franchise

The Apprentice star and director on Trump’s criticism to film

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The Apprentice star and director on Trump’s criticism to film

Jared Harris talks new film Reawakening and homage to Richard Harris

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Jared Harris talks new film Reawakening and homage to Richard Harris

Justin Theroux on the legacy of The Leftovers

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Justin Theroux on the legacy of The Leftovers

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Music Box

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

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Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

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Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

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Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

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Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

On The Ground

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

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Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

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On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

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Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

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Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

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Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

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What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

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When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

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How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

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Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

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Decomplicated

What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

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What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

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Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

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Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

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What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

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Sport

Cancer diagnosis was biggest shock of my life, says Chris Hoy

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Cancer diagnosis was biggest shock of my life, says Chris Hoy

Turkish league ‘smells bad’ and nobody watches it, says Jose Mourinho

01:35

Turkish league ‘smells bad’ and nobody watches it, says Jose Mourinho

Lewis Hamilton playfully interrupts F1 chief’s interview

00:50

Lewis Hamilton playfully interrupts F1 chief’s interview

New Zealand respond after England player calls Haka ‘ridiculous’

01:00

New Zealand respond after England player calls Haka ‘ridiculous’

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

00:49

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Culture

Guard dogs worshipped Nepal Kukur Puja

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Guard dogs worshipped Nepal Kukur Puja

Moment Chris Martin falls through trap door during Coldplay concert

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Moment Chris Martin falls through trap door during Coldplay concert

Watch: First look at M&S Christmas advert as Dawn French returns

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Watch: First look at M&S Christmas advert as Dawn French returns

Watch: Quincy Jones recalls producing Thriller with Michael Jackson

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Watch: Quincy Jones recalls producing Thriller with Michael Jackson

Lifestyle

Diddy heard on prison call as children wish him happy birthday

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Diddy heard on prison call as children wish him happy birthday

Cardi B hits back at Kamala Harris speech critics in expletive rant

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Cardi B hits back at Kamala Harris speech critics in expletive rant

Watch: Lidl 2024 Christmas advert by Oscar-winning director

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Watch: Lidl 2024 Christmas advert by Oscar-winning director

First look at iconic Covent Garden Christmas tree for 2024

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First look at iconic Covent Garden Christmas tree for 2024

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

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Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

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Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

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Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

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Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

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Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

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Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

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Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

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Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

E.ON Next Power Switch

Episode One - Cooking

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Episode One - Cooking

Episode Two - Entertainment

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Episode Two - Entertainment

Episode Three - Body Care

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Episode Three - Body Care

Episode Four - Lighting

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Episode Four - Lighting

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

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Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

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Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

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Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

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Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

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Saudi Green Initiative

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Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

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SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

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SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

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Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

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AlUla

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Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

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Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

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Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

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Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard