Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came to the defense of his wife, Casey, on Monday following disrespectful remarks from left-wing commentators who referred to her as “America’s Karen” during the weekend.
“My wife is an incredibly strong first lady of Florida, a fantastic mother and a great wife, and that threatens the left,” DeSantis, 44, told Fox Business Network’s “Varney & Co.”
During a segment on the “Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart” on MSNBC, former Republican congressman from Florida and current MSNBC analyst David Jolly used the derogatory term “Karen” to refer to Casey DeSantis, a breast cancer survivor and mother of three. This incident occurred over the weekend.
“Casey DeSantis is a fairly compelling political figure in Florida, and now nationally. For many, she’s the brighter side to Florida’s angry governor. For others, she’s become America’s Karen,” Jolly said during the segment, drawing chuckles from his fellow panelists.
In recent years, the term “Karen” has gained popularity as a slang term to describe a white woman who displays an entitled and confrontational attitude.
Last week, Casey DeSantis introduced the “Mamas for DeSantis” initiative in Iowa, marking its launch with a passionate and resolute video portraying her husband as a determined fighter.
Her message echoed several key issues that Governor DeSantis has strongly supported during his tenure, including parental rights in the education system.
“She’s a great advocate for families, a great advocate for children. And I’m thankful that she’s my wife,” Ron DeSantis said Monday. “And I’m really honored that she’s willing to go out there and press the case. And so we wear criticism from MSNBC as a badge of honor.”
The potential 2024 Republican candidate implied that the criticism directed at his wife was driven by liberal concerns that her advocacy for parental empowerment would strongly appeal to voters.
