Ron DeSantis confirms his 2024 presidential bid for the Republican nomination

Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has confirmed he is running for US president in 2024.

Mr DeSantis, 44, is viewed as former President Donald Trump’s chief rival to be their party’s candidate in the general election.

His candidacy has long been expected, and he has now registered officially with the Federal Election Commission.

Mr DeSantis is expected to speak later in an interview with Twitter’s Elon Musk.

The Republican joins a growing list of contenders seeking to unseat Mr Trump, who leads his party’s field by more than 30 points in national opinion polls.

Republican voters will decide next year which candidate will face President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the November 2024 general election.