Former GOP lawmaker says Casey DeSantis is 'America's Karen' to a lot of people, and she can only do so much to help her husband Ron
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- Former GOP congressman, David Jolly, told MSNBC that Casey DeSantis has "become America's Karen."
- DeSantis is often credited for boosting her husband's presidential campaign.
- But Jolly said "it doesn't matter if it's presented in heels or boots, the DeSantis doctrine is a losing one."
A former Republican congressman told MSNBC on Saturday that Casey DeSantis — who's married to Florida Gov. and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis — has "become America's Karen."
"Casey DeSantis is a fairly compelling political figure in Florida and now nationally. For many, she's the brighter side to Florida's angry governor. For others, she's become America's Karen," David Jolly, who represented Florida's 13th Congressional District from 2014 to 2017, said on MSNBC's "The Saturday Show With Jonathan Capehart."
"Look, she's a more effective messenger than Ron DeSantis, but if all she's doing is amplifying the wrong message, she's actually clarifying Ron DeSantis' weaknesses," Jolly told MSNBC.
"It doesn't matter if it's presented in heels or boots, the DeSantis doctrine is a losing one. We are going to learn that the more Casey DeSantis gets out there," Jolly added.
Since leaving office, Jolly had made regular appearances as a political analyst for media outlets like MSNBC and CNN.
Casey DeSantis, a former news anchor, has been credited with boosting her husband Ron's 2024 presidential campaign and improving the governor's image.
"It's clear she's the X factor. They complete the political element that is Ron DeSantis. Without Casey, he would not be the same person," Scott Parkinson, one of Ron DeSantis' former chief of staff in the US House of Representatives, previously told Insider.
But Gov. DeSantis's bitter feud with Disney and his reputation for spearheading Republican culture wars — among other factors — may be hurting his presidential ambitions. DeSantis has consistently lagged behind former President Donald Trump, per multiple GOP primary polls.
Representatives for DeSantis' campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.