Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis released a bizarre ad Monday morning in which he enlisted his wife to show all the ways he is supportive of President Donald Trump.
Listen to my wife Casey, she’s always right. https://t.co/lGcOHc8wEK— Ron DeSantis (@Ron DeSantis) 1532972018.0
The ad opens with an introduction from DeSantis's wife, Casey: "Everyone knows my husband Ron DeSantis is endorsed by President Trump, but he's also an amazing dad." The ad attempts to correlate good parenting and supporting Trump.
The rest of the ad lacks any discernible campaign platform and could easily be mistaken for satire. Such is 2018.
@adamcbest This is like an @nbcsnl skit. What a joke @RonDeSantisFL— John M Melick (@John M Melick) 1532975427.0
"Build the wall," DeSantis says to his toddler daughter, Madison, shown playing with toy building blocks. DeSantis "reads stories," his wife says, just before the camera cuts to the congressman reading The Art of the Deal to an infant.
"Then Mr. Trump said, 'you're fired,'" DeSantis read from the book. "I love that part."
@RonDeSantisFL Because using his kids as props worked out so well for Ted Cruz. But I guess your kids aren't old e… https://t.co/2OWqdoiR8v— Rysa Walker (@Rysa Walker) 1532979256.0
DeSantis is "teaching Madison to talk," Mrs. DeSantis states, as her husband points to and reads a "Make America Great Again" poster to their daughter.
"People say Ron's all Trump, but he is so much more," Mrs. DeSantis tells viewers.
Really? Because the ad is nothing more than DeSantis parroting Trump. Anyway...
The Congressman is then shown standing over his infant son, who is wearing a MAGA shirt, saying: "Bigly [big league?], it's so good."
The ad ends with Mrs. DeSantis saying: "I just thought you should know."
The ad was met with swift mockery on social media. Where exactly is a border wall going to be placed in Florida?
@adamcbest What border is Florida going to put a wall on? The one with GA/AL? I'm not even sure who loses in that scenario.— Blue Hog Report (@Blue Hog Report) 1532975889.0
@RonDeSantisFL So you have no platform. Got it. Signed, Florida Voter— Philippe (@Philippe) 1532974180.0
@RonDeSantisFL Why the hell would you publicly do this to your children. Goes to show you that you have no class at all.— al (@al) 1532976594.0
"I literally cringed watching this."
Literally cringed watching this. RIP whatever's left of @RonDeSantisFL's dignity. https://t.co/SljIzPTVGW— shauna (@shauna) 1532975096.0
"Looks like an SNL skit."
"Totally creepy."
"WTF?"
GOP FL governor candidate Ron DeSantis is trying to out-Trump the competition. In a new campaign ad, he teaches his… https://t.co/hyqELjvO0J— Adam Best (@Adam Best) 1532969435.0
@adamcbest First of all, the right is terrible at “the humor” Second, they all just seem to have this creepy, autho… https://t.co/HdGWwQiOA5— 🍁United Against Fascism (@🍁United Against Fascism) 1532969841.0
People even accused DeSantis of teaching his kids to be racist.
@adamcbest Just proves racism is taught— 🌊🌊YouAreNotAlone🌊🌊 (@🌊🌊YouAreNotAlone🌊🌊) 1532971340.0
@adamcbest And this is how racism is learned.... from the parents— Tory Guerra (@Tory Guerra) 1532972548.0
@adamcbest @Funkmongo Teaching his child about racism so early on. How lovely.— Kerri 🦋 (@Kerri 🦋) 1532970215.0
Others found the ad embarrassing and insulting to DeSantis's kids because the Internet is forever.
"Sad, slovenly, pathetic."
"Embarrassing."
@RonDeSantisFL This is one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever watched— SkipperEvan (@SkipperEvan) 1532977204.0
"Pathetic."
"Sickening."
@RonDeSantisFL This is sickening and unAmerican.— Petrichor (@Petrichor) 1532978633.0
"A new low... for today." It's always something.
It's not like this is cultish behavior or anything.
@RonDeSantisFL Well, that most certainly was creepy. I've never experienced a cult before, so I'm glad I get this o… https://t.co/Er4E9MUpnQ— Kyle Mattingly (@Kyle Mattingly) 1532980112.0
Ron DeSantis is a Republican U.S. Congressman representing Florida's 6th congressional district and is running to replace outgoing Governor Rick Scott (R). DeSantis's campaign was endorsed by Trump via Twitter last December...
Congressman Ron DeSantis is a brilliant young leader, Yale and then Harvard Law, who would make a GREAT Governor of… https://t.co/T3T1ayf1Vh— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1513968029.0
...and again in June.
I am absolutely honored to receive the FULL ENDORSEMENT of President Donald Trump. He has thrown his support behind… https://t.co/iTUjwHPvfP— Ron DeSantis (@Ron DeSantis) 1529696791.0
DeSantis will face off against Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam in the Florida Republican gubernatorial primary in August. Recent polling has Putnam leading DeSantis by double digits.