Ron DeSantis' 'creepy' smile during GOP debate sparks wave of memes
DeSantis's odd grin steals spotlight in yet another GOP showdown
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis stirred up a buzz on social media once again during the second Republican primary debate in Simi Valley, California, for his "creepy" smile. DeSantis' obvious discomfort with smiling was a target of mockery even in the first debate, and it quickly became a trending topic online after the second one too.
Ron DeSantis' fake smile is always followed by a grimace
Observant viewers who had tuned into the debate couldn't help but notice the peculiar moment when Governor DeSantis, discussing vetoing "bloating spending bills," flashed a strained smile that swiftly transformed into a somewhat disturbed grimace. Even Mehdi Hasan, host of 'The Mehdi Hasan Show', didn't hold back his ire towards DeSantis' awkward attempts at giving the audience a warm smile.
Ron DeSantis' robotic mannerism 'off-camera'
Governor DeSantis has displayed a range of behaviors that some have described as robotic. This includes moments of seeming to short-circuit during press interactions and appearing like a stock photo model in a series of pictures from 2015. This has led to the meme posts about Santis glitching, or acting non-human in his expressions and body language whenever he thinks he is "off-camera."
Awkward DeSantis is not seen as people's person
It seems the Governor encountered a similar issue during the first Republican debate last month as his unsuccessful attempt at a smile turned into a viral meme. The recurring nature of this situation has certainly caught the attention of social media users, asking if he can hold a conversation or interact normally with another human being. A politician's chief skill is to be a people's person but the public doesn't think 'awkward' DeSantis has what it takes to charm voters.
Ron DeSantis' talking points get overshadowded by his smile
For some, the anticipation of Governor DeSantis making an unusual facial expression seemed inevitable. Its perceived "creepiness" raises more questions than his political stances. During the second GOP debate, DeSantis found the courage to stand out as one of the few candidates on the stage willing to criticize Donald Trump, who was notably absent. But most were distracted by his smile and those who did pay attention said he echoed previously expressed sentiments by the more outspoken Trump critic, Chris Christie.
Suing Disney while looking like 'Disney World animatronic'
Former White House official and Obama's 2012 campaign manger, Jim Messina, tweeted a joke about DeSantis resembling the animatronics on display at Disney World in Florida. He also tied it to Governor DeSantis' controversial move to revoke Walt Disney World's self-governing powers in Orlando. This decision came in response to Disney's opposition to his "Don't say gay" bill, which prohibits teachers from providing instruction on topics related to gender identity and sexuality. The clash between the governor and Disney has ignited a debate surrounding free speech and education policies.
Absurd delay in DeSantis' smile has audience laughing at him
Governor DeSantis' awkward moment occurred shortly after he assured an audience, "We'll get the job done, and I won't let you down." A clip shared by Democrat strategist Keith Edwards, known as X on Twitter, capturing the uncomfortable laughter of the audience directed at DeSantis' expression, was widely shared. Edwards, reacting to the delayed and seemingly forced smile from DeSantis, endorsed his tweet, stating, "The delay of him trying to smile is insane??"