Ron DeSantis went on a rampage against the “woke mind virus” when he vowed to “keep Disney in the pen” and pushed back Bud Light’s decision to use a transgender social media star as a spokesperson.
Florida’s governor continues to tour the country exploring a presidential run under the guise of a book tour.
During remarks at his first stop of the three-city South Carolina tour, DeSantis told a crowd of about 300 people in Charleston that he would continue to take on companies trying to push their waking agenda — including his No. 1 enemy Disney.
One of DeSantis’ biggest initiatives is to counter organizations’ shift to environmental, social and governance investments, commonly known as ESG. The practice has become popular with companies trying to use their influence and money to promote agendas that are usually progressive in nature.
‘The people [want] Businesses need to focus on their core business: providing whatever service or whatever they’re doing in the economy and not getting caught up in waking political activism,” DeSantis said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered 30-minute remarks Wednesday in Charleston, South Carolina, ranting against Bud Light, Disney and the “woke mind virus”
After his speech, DeSantis sat down with his wife and Florida first lady Casey for a chat where the two discussed a range of issues such as transgenderism, education and ESG investing.
“And you see it over and over again,” he added. “Sometimes it’s a one-off, like this ridiculous Bud Light case of trying to push transgenderism away. But what they’re doing is these companies, usually very wealthy, powerful companies, are trying to use their economic power to change our country and change society and policies.”
“Things like ESG — what they’re trying to do is pursue a leftist agenda,” Florida’s governor said. “We’re eliminating ESG, we’re protecting Floridians.”
“And Disney, you know, we’ll make sure they stay in their pen somehow.”
DeSantis delivered 30-minute remarks before sitting down with his wife and Florida first lady Casey for a fireside-style conversation.
Casey, who graduated from the College of Charleston, wore a floral blue sundress while the governor sported a casual look with jeans, black boots, a white button-down and blazer.
DeSantis spoke to a few hundred South Carolinans with the American and South Carolina flags behind him. His book The Courage to Be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival was displayed on the table where he sat talking to his wife.
DeSantis continued his diatribe against “awakened” corporations and education systems.
“It’s wrong for a teacher to tell a student that maybe they were born in the wrong body or that their gender is a choice,” Desantis said. “So we won’t let that happen in Florida.”
“Disney objects to that, so be it, we’re going to do that,” he added in his war of words with the massive Florida corporation.
The first Florida couple visited a local coffee shop in Charleston after its Florida Blueprint event at the North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center.
Their three young children—Madison, 6, Mason, 5, and Mamie, 3—didn’t join the one-day swing across South Carolina—but Casey assured them they would join them for their visit to Israel next week.
“Things like ESG — what they’re trying to do is pursue a leftist agenda … And, Disney, you know, we’re going to make sure they stay in their pen somehow,” DeSantis said in his sequel to the war of words with Walt Disney World
The second event of the day for DeSantis is a closed press event expected to include a few hundred people hosted by the Dorchester County GOP in Summerville, South Carolina.
After that, the Florida governor will continue for remarks Wednesday evening in Spartanburg, South Carolina for the same type of event he held in Charleston.
Before leaving for South Carolina, DeSantis made a stop Tuesday at his old workplace at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers where he once served as a Florida congressman.
He will also return to the DC metro area on Friday for remarks at a leadership summit for conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation.
Meanwhile, Trump continues to garner support for his 2024 White House campaign from lawmakers in Washington — including several from the Republican delegation in Florida.
As he walked away from his meetings in DC on Tuesday, two more Republicans expressed their support for the former president over the highly popular governor.
Representatives Brian Mast of Florida and Lance Gooden of Texas said they would support Trump’s primary run. Even after Gooden said he had a “positive meeting” with DeSantis in person on Tuesday.
This brings the total number of endorsements for Trump to seven out of 20 Florida Republican congressmen.
Florida GOP Representative Greg Steube, who also supported Trump over DeSantis and recently made headlines for a freak accident that saw him fall off a ladder, said the governor never contacted or replied to him during his time in the House.
The congressman told Politico he made multiple attempts to contact DeSantis and said he was turned down from standing next to the governor at an event on Hurricane Ian relief.
DeSantis has received one official endorsement from a Florida legislator, despite not officially running yet. Rep. Laurel Lee is a freshman congressman who previously served as Florida Secretary of State under DeSantis.
Texas Rep. Chip Roy and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie have also endorsed DeSantis.
Trump has so far received 45 approvals in the House and nine in the Senate.
Despite gory messages of support for Trump, the governor still seems to be hurtling full steam ahead to a presidential run.