While her husband stakes his case to become president, Casey DeSantis continued her audition for America’s first lady by channeling another first lady and delivering a blunt message on the back of her coat.
‘Where woke comes to die,’ read the message on the back of her black leather jacket at a charity biker rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
It also featured a picture of an alligator and the outline of the state of Florida, where her husband is governor.
It immediately drew comparisons with Melania Trump, who wore a statement green-hooded jacket during a 2018 trip to visit migrant children in Texas.
‘I really don’t care do u?’ it said, triggering vigorous debate about whether she was shrugging at the fate of detained children, or giving a metaphorical finger to the media and attacks on her family.
Casey DeSantis continued her audition for America’s first lady by channeling another first lady and delivering a blunt message on the back of her coat: ‘Where woke comes to die’
The DeSantis message was clearer, and aligned closely with one of her husband’s key campaign commitments.
Supporters say she is a key part of the campaign machine, and has been ever present at events since DeSantis announced his bid.
On Saturday she entertained their three children in her leather jacket amid 86F heat while the Florida governor signed Bibles and hats, and posed for selfies with supporters.
They were appearing at Sen. Joni Ernst’s Roast and Ride event. After a biker procession, eight 2024 Republican hopefuls appeared on stage to make their pitch to Iowa voters.
DeSantis joined former Vice President Mike Pence, former Gov Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott and other declared candidates in Des Moines, Iowa.
But the frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, was notably absent, continuing a strategy of avoiding events where he has to share a stage with rivals.
His former VP was the only hopeful who took part in the motorbike rally, one part of Sen. Joni Ernst’s Roast and Ride
Former Vice President Mike Pence donned a leather vest and jeans as he joined a column of about 200 bikers in Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday at a gathering of 2024 hopefuls
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis mingled with supporters and signed books and posters at the state fairgrounds near Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday morning
And in his speech he teased an announcement on Wednesday, when he is due to return to the state.
‘And I have to tell you over the last two years, [wife] Karen and I have spent a lot of time reflecting and praying about everything this country is dealing with and what we might do to serve,’ he said.
‘And I don’t have anything to announce today but I can tell you, when it gets time to announce, come this Wednesday, I’m announcing in Iowa.’
Pence has made multiple trips to the early caucus state over the past year as he tests the waters, but has yet to formally enter the race.
He wore jeans, boots and a leather vest with patches paying tribute to his home state of ‘Indiana’ and messages supportive of the military as he joined Ernst at the head of the rumbling column of bikers.
Saturday was one of the uniquely Iowan events when voters get a chance to meet the candidates up close as they weigh their support.
Amid plates of roast pork and biker jackets, eight presidential hopefuls made their pitch as they mingled with locals.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrived at the end of a five-day swing through early states.
His wife Casey wore a black leather jacket in 86-degree weather with the words ‘Where Woke Goes to Die’ with an image of an alligator and the outline of Florida on the back.
After an hour or so of retail politics, the candidates took the stage to outline their platform in 10-minute speeches.
Casey DeSantis, Florida’s first lady, wore a leather jacket with a message despite 86F heat
Pence (left) was the only one of the runners or potential runners to join Sen. Joni Ernst (right) in the column of some 200 bikers in Des Moines, Iowa
Sen. Tim Scott, whose unique selling point is an optimistic message of unity, was the first of the candidates to take the stage
The rally at the state fairgrounds near Des Moines is one of the first chances for Republicans in the state to compare almost of the candidates side by side.
Others appearing are former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Michigan businessman Perry Johnson, author Vivek Ramaswamy and conservative talk radio host Larry Elder.
Absent was Trump, who visited the state earlier this week. However, his presence was felt with signs around the fairgrounds parking lot and his presence in the race hung over nearly every speech.
The first to take the stage was Scott, who is trying to unify the party with a message of optimism, based on his own rags to riches story.
‘I scare the dickens out of the radical left and Joe Biden,’ he said. ‘The proof of my life destroys their lies.’
Pence, for his part, listed the achievements from his time as vice president before slamming the Biden administration.
Author and anti-woke activist Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage after being introduced by Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who hosts the annual fundraiser for veterans
‘Under President Joe Biden and the Democrats in Washington DC, they’ve unleashed the worst border crisis in American history,’ he said.
‘Inflation is at a 40-year high, energy prices through the roof all from their war on energy and their weakness abroad.
‘And that disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan has embolden the enemies of freedom.’
Like other candidates, he hinted it was time to move on from the divisive politics of recent years.
‘Republicans have to offer a positive vision of the future ,grounded in … conservative principles and we got to speak hard truths,’ he said.
‘Men and women we got to resist the temptation to put what’s popular over what works and has been proven over time.
‘I believe we have to resist the politics of personality.’
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