In a recent twist of political drama, former President Donald Trump’s campaign has launched an ad aimed at Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis, presenting him with a new nickname.
The official “Trump War Room” account fired a volley on Twitter this Tuesday, accusing DeSantis of keeping Florida citizens cooped up during the peak of the COVID pandemic. The ad introduced a fresh tag for the Governor: “Lockdown Ron.”
In a claim marked by Twitter’s fact-checking service, the ad stated, “Lockdown Ron DeSantis shut Florida down during the pandemic, much more so than other states.” The Trump War Room continued to question DeSantis’ credibility, accusing him of attempting to rewrite history and labeling him as “a liar and a fraud.”
The ad on DeSantis is just the latest in a series of nicknames Trump has thrown at the Florida Governor, including “Ron DeSanctimonious,” “Rob,” and “Meatball Ron.”
Yet, the validity of the ad’s claims has been called into question. The fact-checking label attached to the ad leads to an article in The New York Post that shows Trump once praising DeSantis’ leadership in Florida.
In fact, the linked resources show Florida’s Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez lauding DeSantis for his handling of the pandemic, noting his “measured and targeted” approach to protecting vulnerable individuals without imposing blanket restrictions across the diverse state.
Meanwhile, the “DeSantis War Room” Twitter account clapped back at the Trump War Room tweet, posting a video compilation of Trump’s past praises for DeSantis and his approach to keeping Florida open.
As the spat continues to unfold on social media, the two political heavyweights, Trump and DeSantis, have increasingly been at odds with each other. Trump still holds a significant lead in the 2024 Republican primary field, including over DeSantis. Despite a recent CNN poll indicating a slight narrowing of Trump’s lead, he continues to outpace the Florida Governor by 21 points.
As we continue to watch the drama unfold, it’s a reminder that politics is not just about policies and speeches, but often also involves a keen eye for marketing and the occasional knack for branding one’s opponents. As 2024 draws closer, we can expect the political landscape to keep heating up.
