Ron DeSantis Defends LGBTQ+ Attack Ad After Tidal Wave of Backlash
Donald Trump for being too friendly towards the LGBTQ+ community, with the Florida governor describing the ex-president as "a pioneer in injecting gender ideology into the mainstream."The Florida Republican made the remarks during an appearance on conservative influencer Tomi Lahren's OutKick show, which was tweeted out on Wednesday.Polling indicates DeSantis is Trump's most dangerous rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, though he remains some distance behind the ex-president.
The GOP rivals are already fighting a bitter campaign, with Trump earlier this year boosting a post that accused DeSantis of "grooming" without providing any solid evidence.On June 30, the DeSantis War Room Twitter account, which describes itself as the Florida governor's "rapid response" operation, shared an attack video aimed at Trump, describing him as "the politician who did more than any other Republican to celebrate" Pride Month.The video features stock footage of Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention vowing to "do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens," along with photos of him with Republican transgender television personality Caitlyn Jenner, and holding up an "LGBTs for Trump" rainbow flag.It's contrasted with DeSantis, who receives an ultra-macho portrayal, with footage of the governor interspaced with figures such as Achilles, as portrayed by Brad Pitt in the 2004 movie Troy, and fictional gangster Tommy Shelby from the British TV show Peaky Blinders.
