In a campaign ad released by Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and a prominent figure in his bid for the 2024 presidential race, accusations against the LGBTQ+ community have ignited a firestorm of controversy. The ad, primarily targeting conservative women under the banner of “Mamas for DeSantis,” seeks to rally opposition against teachings on racial history, LGBTQ+ individuals, and measures taken to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The highly contentious ad paints a distressing picture of liberals and LGBTQ+ people as potential threats to the safety of children. Through grainy footage, it juxtaposes a mother with a masked child on an airplane, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s statements regarding pandemic restrictions, girls participating in a track meet, and LGBTQ+ protestors at New York City’s recent Drag March. Accompanied by ominous music, the imagery aims to evoke fear and concern.
Notably, the ad features photos of Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as an image of a person dressed for puppy play near a child—a picture that has long circulated in far-right circles to denigrate Pride celebrations. However, the authenticity and origin of this particular image remain unknown.
Casey DeSantis declares in the ad, “When you come after our kids, we fight back. Because there’s nothing we won’t do to protect our children.” President Joe Biden and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre are shown defending the importance of safeguarding all children, but their statements have been labeled controversial by conservatives who claim they aim to separate families.
The video concludes with a resolute message: “We are no longer silent. We are united. And we have finally found our fighter,” accompanied by a photo of Ron DeSantis. Casey DeSantis asserts, “We must protect parents’ rights and the innocence of our children. We must restore sanity in our society.”
The release of this ad follows another controversial DeSantis campaign video that juxtaposed shirtless muscle-bound men with statements suggesting that Ron DeSantis is harming the LGBTQ+ community in Florida. The ad attempted to argue that even Donald Trump supports LGBTQ+ rights excessively, relying on statements he made prior to assuming the presidency in 2017.
Critics, including prominent gay Republicans like Representative George Santos and former Trump administration official Richard Grenell, have vehemently denounced the recent ad. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg dismissed the ad’s attempts to assert masculinity, raising concerns about the underlying policy issues and the beneficiaries targeted by such rhetoric.
Governor Ron DeSantis has consistently targeted LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly LGBTQ+ youth, throughout his tenure, seemingly as a strategy to bridge the wide polling gap between him and former President Trump in the 2024 Republican primary. Recent polling data from RealClearPolitics places DeSantis in a distant second place, garnering an average of 20.9% support, while Trump holds a commanding lead with an average of 53.0%.
In a charged political climate, the release of Casey DeSantis’ controversial campaign ad further exacerbates tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and raises questions about the impact of such messaging on marginalized communities.