As her husband champions his case to become president, Casey DeSantis continued her audition for First Lady of the United States by channeling another first lady and delivering a direct message on the back of her coat.
“Where woke comes to die,” read the message on the back of his black leather jacket at a biker charity rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
It also featured a photo of an alligator and the outline of the state of Florida, where her husband is governor.
He immediately drew comparisons to Melania Trump, who wore a green hoodie on a 2018 trip to visit migrant children in Texas.
‘I really don’t care, do I?’ he said, sparking a vigorous debate over whether she was shrugging off the plight of detained children or giving a metaphorical finger to the media and attacks on her family.
Casey DeSantis continued her audition for the first lady of the United States by channeling another first lady and delivering a direct message on the back of her coat: “Where woke comes to die”
Her jacket immediately drew comparisons to Melania Trump and the coast she wore in 2018 while visiting migrant children detained in Texas while her husband was president.
DeSantis’ message was clearer and aligned closely with one of her husband’s key campaign pledges.
Supporters say she’s a major part of the campaign machine, echoing her talking points and rounding her awkward edges with stories from their lives at home.
She has always been present at events since DeSantis announced her candidacy.
On Saturday, she entertained their three children in her leather jacket amid 86F heat as the Florida governor signed Bibles and hats and posed for selfies with supporters.
In a 10-minute speech to Republicans, her husband once again channeled Churchill into exposing his contempt for “woke” ideology.
“We are going to wage a war against revival. We will fight revival in education; we will fight revival in companies; we will fight the revival in the halls of Congress,” he said.
“We will never surrender to the awake crowd.”
Fighting political correctness at Disney, banning transgender reassignment surgery on minors, and eradicating discussions of sexuality from schools are all part of the anti-revival agenda in Florida.
Casey is considered Governor DeSantis’ not-so-secret weapon. Supporters say she amplifies her message and complements her awkward edges with stories from their family life
The first lady of Florida has always been present at events since DeSantis launched her run
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mingled with supporters and signed books and posters at the state fairgrounds near Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday morning.
“We stand for the protection of our children,” he said. “We will fight anyone who seeks to rob them of their innocence.
“And on these principles. I will not compromise on my position.
DeSantis is in second place behind Trump, but has a lot of ground to make up for if he wants to win the nomination.
On Saturday, he was appearing at Sen. Joni Ernst’s Roast and Ride event. After a biker procession, eight Republican hopefuls of 2024 appeared on stage to present their case to voters in Iowa.
DeSantis joined former Vice President Mike Pence, former Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott and other declared candidates in Des Moines, Iowa.
Former Vice President Mike Pence donned a leather vest and jeans as he joined a column of about 200 bikers in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday at a rally of 2024 hopefuls
But frontrunner former President Donald Trump was notably absent, pursuing a strategy of avoiding events where he has to share a stage with rivals.
His former vice president was the only hope to have participated in the motorcycle rally, part of Senator Joni Ernst’s Roast and Ride.
And in his speech, he teased an announcement on Wednesday when he is due to return to the state.
‘And I have to tell you over the past two years, [wife] Karen and I spent a lot of time thinking and praying about all that this country is facing and what we could do to serve,” he said.
“And I have nothing to announce today but I can tell you, when it’s time to announce, come on Wednesday, I’m announcing in Iowa.”
Pence has made several trips to the premier caucus state over the past year as he tests the waters, but has yet to officially enter the race.
He wore jeans, boots and a leather vest with patches honoring his home state of “Indiana” and messages of support for the military as he joined Ernst as head of the rumbling column of bikers.
Saturday was one of Iowan’s unique events where voters get the chance to meet the candidates up close as they gauge their support.
Amid plates of roast pork and biker jackets, eight presidential candidates made their presentations mingling with locals.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has arrived at the end of a five-day trip through the early states.
His wife Casey wore a black leather jacket in 86 degree weather with the words ‘Where Woke Goes to Die’ with an image of an alligator and the outline of Florida on the back.
After about an hour of trade policy, the candidates took the stage to pitch their platform in 10-minute speeches.
Pence (left) was the only one of the riders or would-be riders to join Sen. Joni Ernst (right) in the column of some 200 bikers in Des Moines, Iowa
Senator Tim Scott, whose sole selling point is an optimistic message of unity, was the first of the candidates to take the stage
The rally at the state fairgrounds near Des Moines is one of the first opportunities for Republicans in the state to compare nearly every candidate side-by-side.
Other appearers include former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Michigan businessman Perry Johnson, author Vivek Ramaswamy and conservative radio host Larry Elder.
Absent was Trump, who visited the state earlier this week. However, his presence was felt with signs around the fairground parking lot and his presence in the race loomed over almost every speech.
First to take the stage was Scott, who is trying to unify the party with a message of optimism, based on his own rags-to-riches story.
“I scare the dicks of the radical left and Joe Biden,” he said. “The proof of my life destroys their lies.”
Pence, for his part, listed the accomplishments of his tenure as vice president before criticizing the Biden administration.
Author and anti-revival activist Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage after being introduced by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, who hosts the annual veterans fundraiser
“Under President Joe Biden and the Democrats in Washington DC, they unleashed the worst border crisis in American history,” he said.
“Inflation is at its highest level in 40 years, energy prices have skyrocketed because of their war on energy and weakness overseas.
“And this disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan has emboldened the enemies of freedom.”
Like other candidates, he has hinted that it is time to move on from the divisive politics of recent years.
“Republicans must offer a positive vision of the future, based on … conservative principles and we must speak hard truths,” he said.
“Men and women, we must resist the temptation to put what is popular over what works and has been proven over time.
“I believe we must resist personality politics.”
