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DeSantis-Sacks ’24

David Sacks will moderate a Twitter Spaces conversation between Elon Musk and Ron DeSantis, where he long-time sotto voce candidate will formally announce his presidential run.
David Sacks will moderate a Twitter Spaces conversation between Elon Musk and Ron DeSantis, where the sotto voce candidate will formally announce his presidential run. Photo: Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

A few months ago, when Ron DeSantis was still being coy about his obvious ambition for the presidency, the Florida governor made a clandestine pilgrimage to Silicon Valley. DeSantis was a shiny object in the world of G.O.P. donors, and he was in town to lock down the support of some of the wealthiest and most connected people in his party. And during one evening on this particular trip, DeSantis had a powerful ally: David Sacks.

The ex-PayPal billionaire, Elon sidekick, libertarian-ish podcast star and aspiring political maestro had quietly organized a dinner for top Bay Area leaders to hear directly from the governor. It wasn’t a fundraiser, but one subtext at least was clear—when the time came for DeSantis to actually raise money, Sacks would be the guy in his corner.