Rupert Murdoch, the media mogul who controls some of the most powerful conservative media outlets, appeared to make it clear on Wednesday that he prefers Ron DeSantis as the Republican leader, ousting Donald Trump, according to CNN.

Donald Trump at a pre-election rally Photo: Charlie Neibergall/AP/Profimedia

The Murdoch-controlled tabloid New York Post hailed DeSantis’ victory. “DeFUTURE” was the headline on the front page of a photo of DeSantis with his wife and children celebrating his election night victory.

DeSantis’ victory got a lot of attention on Fox News on Wednesday. “I think Governor DeSantis is the biggest winner of the night,” former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said on “Fox & Friends.”

Also on Fox News, conservative commentator Liz Peek declared DeSantis “the new leader of the Republican Party.”

“Republicans are ready to move on without Donald Trump,” she wrote.

And in The Wall Street Journal, owned by Murdoch, the editorial board published an editorial titled “The DeSantis Tsunami in Florida.”

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Murdoch’s media positioning is notable for the influence it has on the Conservative base.

“This is not an accident,” a person familiar with how the media mogul runs his companies told CNN on Wednesday.

Election Day coverage of DeSantis doesn’t mean the Murdoch-controlled media will turn against Trump, however, but rather suggests the mogul could use his influence to tip the scales in DeSantis’ favor if he enters the GOP’s internal race for the nomination. for the position of president. Presidential elections of 2024.