Though Gov. Ron DeSantis doesn't like Elon Musk's new political party, he hopes the tech billionaire will throw his weight behind two potential constitutional amendments limiting congressional power.
"If somebody as significant as Elon wants to get in the game on that, he will have a very consequential impact," DeSantis said at a Monday press conference. "I think Elon Musk has been one of the most innovative entrepreneurs not just in our country's history, but probably in world history."
DeSantis, unprompted, brought up Musk and his new "America Party" at the end of a Jacksonville press conference on Monday.
While he lightly knocked the party for potentially splitting votes and handing wins to Democrats, the criticism was sandwiched between glowing praise of the South African's historical "innovation" and "monumental" influence. The comments came after months-old speculation that DeSantis may be angling for a presidential endorsement from Musk in 2028.
And though it also follows the billionaire's bitter fallout with President Donald Trump, it’s not the first time DeSantis has looked to Musk amid drama with the president.
Immediately after Trump’s first blowup with Musk last month, the governor’s political committee issued a fundraising email praising Musk. A DeSantis adviser said it was a coincidence.
Trump advisers are already expecting that DeSantis may run for president.
DeSantis on Monday referred to two prospective constitutional amendments demanding a balanced federal budget and term limits for Congress. He pointed out that Musk, as the former head of the agency in charge of cutting financial waste, would be aligned with both measures.
Florida already submitted calls for a constitutional convention to propose these amendments. DeSantis asked that Musk redirect his vast resources from the America Party and toward these amendments.
"If Elon wanted to weigh in on [the amendments] and work on those state legislatures, he would have a monumental impact on doing this," DeSantis said Monday.
A constitutional convention—which has never been called—is another path to amending the U.S. Constitution. Congress must call it if 34 states (two-thirds) ask for it.
