Ron DeSantis says his 2018 ‘Build the wall’ ad was “satirical”

DeSantis Trump ad
'It was a little tongue in cheek, but that was, you know, many years ago.'

It turns out the most famous ad of Ron DeSantis’ political career was just a joke after all.

In an interview with John Stossel, DeSantis took aim at those who took seriously his ad from 2018’s Primary campaign in which DeSantis acted like a Donald Trump mini-me by teaching one of his children how to “build the wall,” and reading to another from The Art of the Deal.

“Well, if you watch that, I mean, you know, it was a satirical ad,” said the Governor who was described in the spot as a “pit bull Trump defender.”

“It was a little tongue in cheek, but that was, you know, many years ago.”

DeSantis acknowledged the attention the ad brought him during his first run for Governor.

“I was running and we wanted to get some notoriety. And so I knew if we did that, that it would cause the press to go berserk, and what they would do is they would be outraged by it, but they would keep playing it and so people would see,” he explained.

“I don’t even know how much money we paid to run it, but the media ran it for us because they were so upset, you know, that it was a pro Trump ad.”

The ad positioned Mr. DeSantis as the Trumpiest candidate in the 2018 field, reminding voters that he was endorsed over Adam Putnam.

“Everyone knows my husband Ron DeSantis is endorsed by President Trump, but he’s also an amazing dad. Ron loves playing with the kids,” said Casey DeSantis in the spot.

While the ad may have been satirical, the former President continues to emphasize that his endorsement got DeSantis elected.

“I got him the nomination. By the way, he could have never gotten the nomination. He would be working in either a pizza parlor place or a law office right now,” he told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in March.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. His work also can be seen in the Washington Post, the New York Post, the Washington Times, and National Review, among other publications. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


24 comments

  • Kyle Orlando

    May 23, 2023 at 2:41 pm

    So, “Ron” is now publicly admitting that he’ll say or do anything to get elected.

    But didn’t we know that already?

    • Dont Say FLA

      May 23, 2023 at 3:23 pm

      We did know. That is why Rhonda paused and said “you know” in the middle of today’s pack of lies.

  • Rob Desantos

    May 23, 2023 at 2:51 pm

    This guy, always lying about everything, sheesh.

  • Michael K

    May 23, 2023 at 2:59 pm

    Hasn’t “satirical” been outlawed by the Florida thought and morality police?

    This lends credence to the quip that Ron is the kind of guy who would unplug your mother’s life support to charge his cell phone.

    • Ron Be gone

      May 23, 2023 at 3:01 pm

      He would unplug HIS mothers life support to charge his cell phone.

      • Dont Say FLA

        May 24, 2023 at 8:25 am

        Ron DeSantis WOULD unplug his mothers life support to charge his cell phone, but would he unplug that hanging wet hooded Guantanamo guy from those car batteries to charge his cell phone? NOPE

  • Dont Say FLA

    May 23, 2023 at 3:22 pm

    Rhonda’s wife is named Casey, right? Is that Casey Anthony? Did she teach Rhonda how to lie? Newflash and hint: Whenever Rhonda pauses and says “you know,” you know he is lying.

  • PeterH

    May 23, 2023 at 11:13 pm

    Breitbart has refused to endorse DeSantis because they believe he can’t be trusted. The characterization that DeSantis never believed in “The Wall Mexico Refused to Build”…..will effectively ruin DeSantis with the MAGA crowd! DeSantis can’t win without Trump voters!

    So be it! Building a 3000 mile wall would cost many trillions of dollars to design, build and maintain. It is not a wonder why the American taxpayer refused to endorse building a wall.

    There is ONLY ONE governmental body that can remedy sensible immigration. That body is CONGRESS. Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and a dozen do-nothing Republican House representatives ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WRITING LEGISLATION!

    • Doris Lauter

      May 24, 2023 at 12:17 pm

      Ron will say anything to get that MAGA crowd. Just watch.

    • Rmb

      May 24, 2023 at 4:42 pm

      Well, this is complete horse crap. “Three trillion”? Where did you pull that from?

    • Florida Man

      May 24, 2023 at 5:06 pm

      Um, did the American Taxpayer endorse sending billions to Ukraine?

    • Tired of Biden

      May 24, 2023 at 9:22 pm

      Better than sending that money to Ukraine

  • Disgruntled

    May 24, 2023 at 12:03 am

    Translation: After consulting with his donors and handlers, he welcomes immigration and no longer supports a wall.

    • Doris Lauter

      May 24, 2023 at 12:20 pm

      He has been talking with Trump donors. He invites them to dinner at a fancy restaurant.. his wife is very political, and will say anything to get to the top.

  • Kevin

    May 24, 2023 at 4:33 am

    DeSantis is in freefall. He’s a great governor, but he needs to stay far away from national politics.

    • Dont Say FLA

      May 24, 2023 at 7:50 am

      Rhonda is great with GOP type beta male bro’s and sagging former Barbie dolls, hence his success with Florida’s GOP super majority, and hence his campaign laugh tomorrow being on Twitter. Facing any opposition, even just a statement of opposition such as Disney’s, Rhonda sputters like an Idaho potato on a Waffle House cooktop.

  • If that was satire

    May 24, 2023 at 8:24 am

    If that was satire, Ron DeSantis is against building the wall. Correct? Ron being against the wall makes sense. If a wall gets built, that wall displaces sneaking immigrants into boats. Boats land on beaches. Florida has beaches. Ron surely does not want barbed wire beaches, does he? No. Therefore, Ron is definitely against the wall, just like he’s saying. For once Ron is telling the God’s honest truth. Ron does not want to build that wall.

  • Leroy Achoy

    May 24, 2023 at 10:05 am

    This shows him to be an ungrateful grifter.
    President Trump saved him not once but twice. First he pulled Ron’s campaign out of the mud and rocketed him into first.

    After DeSantis had the nomination sown up, he would have lost to Gillum of all people. President Trump had to send in the FBI as the margin was under 1% and shrinking until he saved the election for Ron a second time.

    You might think that would be worth a small bit of loyalty while the Deep State is massing their forces. Instead, DeSantos is lying in wait to stab President Trump in the back once Soros gives the signal.

  • Jonathan

    May 24, 2023 at 2:33 pm

    So we should expect anything his campaign puts out today to be renounced as sarcasm anytime it’s convenient, or just this? Typical politician. Drain the swamp.

  • Americitizen

    May 24, 2023 at 3:47 pm

    Ronald promised he would finish out his governor term, and now he’s changing laws to remain governor while running for president.
    Breaking a promise as the first step into the presidential race is not a good way to start things off – what an absolute moron.
    He’s owned and controlled opposition, he’s what you call the “deeply entrenched” commies.
    Political suicide. Also, he’s a globalist – take that to the bank.

  • Jane

    May 24, 2023 at 4:21 pm

    It feels like I’m talking to that girl in high school who hangs out with you when she feels like it, then acts embarrassed in front of the other girls.

  • Lee

    May 25, 2023 at 10:21 am

    Satirical?

    “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

  • Del Boca Vista

    May 27, 2023 at 4:24 pm

    I don’t think the Governor knows what “satirical” means.

Comments are closed.


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