Ron DeSantis’ campaign posts video of presidential candidate defining what woke means
The Ron DeSantis presidential campaign posted a video Friday of the candidate defining the term “awake” days after former President Donald Trump said he doesn’t like the word because “half the people can’t define it.”
During a campaign stop in Iowa, NBC reporter Dasha Burns asked the Florida governor about Trump’s comments.
‘[Trump] said he doesn’t like using the word “awake” because people don’t know what it means. That’s obviously a big part of your coverage. What do you say to that?’ she asked.
“Look, we know what wake is, it’s a form of cultural Marxism,” DeSantis replied.
Last week, also in Iowa, former President Donald Trump stated that he doesn’t like the word awake because many people struggle to define it
“It’s about putting merit and achievement behind identity politics, and it’s basically a war on truth. And since that infected settings, and it corrupted settings. So you have to be willing to fight the wake, we did that in Florida, and we proudly consider ourselves the state where the wake is going to die.”
The DeSantis War Room – the candidate’s quick-response Twitter operation – retweeted the clip over the weekend, writing: “Asked to define WOKE, @RonDeSantis doesn’t miss a beat:
“It’s a form of cultural Marxism… It’s a war against truth.”
Trump — who, along with DeSantis, is considered the front-runner for the Republican party’s 2024 nomination — had made his statement earlier this week during a campaign stop in Urbandale, Iowa, in which he “awakened” the term.
The third presidential candidate said, “I don’t like the term ‘wake up’ because I hear the term ‘wake up woke up’…I don’t know what it is.”
US Republican presidential nominee and Florida governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the Roast and Ride event hosted by US Senator Joni Ernst during his campaign in Des Moines, Iowa, US on June 3, 2023
Republicans have long defined “awake” as an umbrella term for progressive ideology and actions that undermine freedom and American ideals.
The term has been used to describe the progressive stance on a number of culture war issues, including allowing transgender girls and women to compete against biological women in sports competitions, as many claim it gives an unfair advantage. Swimmer Riley Gaines has long been an outspoken critic of trans girls in women’s sports.
Other examples include US companies taking public positions or forcing liberal ideals on consumers. Most notably, Bud Light has suffered a $27 billion drop in value as boycotts have dragged on for months following the company’s disastrous partnership with transgender Dylan Mulvaney.
Critical Race Theory used in schools has also been used to push an “awakened” agenda and a target for conservatives.
DeSantis has identified fighting wakes as a key pillar of his presidential campaign and has said he plans to stamp out “woke ideology” in the US.
When asked recently during a Fox News interview why it was the right time for him to run for president, DeSantis said:
“Because everyone knows if I am the nominee, I will beat Biden and serve two terms and I will be able to destroy leftism in this country and send the awakened ideology to the dustbin of history.”
Casey DeSantis wore a leather jacket last week with a 90 degree Iowa message: ‘Where wake goes to die’ written on her back
CRT and its use in school have become a target of those who try to fight the ‘awakened’ agenda and keep progressive ideas away
On Saturday, DeSantis’ wife, Casey DeSantis, was spotted in the scorching Iowa heat wearing a leather jacket with the words “WHERE WOKE GOES TO DIE” on the back.
The design also featured an outline of the state of Florida and a snapping alligator.
DeSantis currently scores nearly 40 points behind Donald Trump, according to most presidential primaries in the early days of the primaries.
After a landslide reelection to the governor’s mansion in November, DeSantis started the year with some clues about Trump.
But those clues have vanished in the early months of 2023, and DeSantis’ failed presidential announcement two weeks ago didn’t land him an initial bump that would bring him closer to Trump’s polling range.