DeSantis defends wife after being called 'America's Karen,' says she threatens the left

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday defended his wife after MSNBC commentators referred to his wife, Casey, as “America’s Karen” last weekend, claiming that the left felt threatened by her. 

"My wife is an incredibly strong first lady of Florida, a fantastic mother, and a great wife, and that threatens the left," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Fox Business’s "Varney & Co." on Monday. 

"So she and I kind of shrug it off because we know it just shows they view her as a threat, because the message that she was bringing in Iowa about the rights of parents and how we are not going to take this anymore with the left trying to indoctrinate our kids, they understand that that resonates not just with Republican parents, with independent parents and, yes, with Democrat parents," he added.

Last weekend, a political panel on MSNBC’s “Saturday Show with Jonathan Capehart” referred to Casey DeSantis as “America’s Karen” while discussing DeSantis’ campaigning strategy and Florida’s first lady’s new Mamas for DeSantis initiative. 

"Casey DeSantis is a fairly compelling political figure in Florida, and now nationally. For many, she's the brighter side of Florida's angry governor. For others, she's become America's Karen. And I think that's the ultimate disconnect here with a campaign that needs to embrace more constituencies to get to the White House," MSNBC analyst and former Florida Congressman David Jolly said before the panel broke into laughter. 

“She needs to stop trying to measure the drapes in the White House and think that she’s some kind of Jackie O reincarnate. I mean, Casey DeSantis, keep an eye on her, though. She’s a wily figure," said The Lincoln Project member Tara Setmayer.

The Florida Governor argued that critics from the left are worried about Casey’s effectiveness as an advocate for families and children. 

“I'm thankful that she's my wife," DeSantis said. "And I'm really honored that she's willing to go out there and press the case. And so we wear criticism from MSNBC as a badge of honor."