Ron DeSantis Finally Asked to Define ‘Woke’ at Iowa Campaign Stop
Fighting “woke” has been the cornerstone of DeSantis’ 2024 presidential campaign thus far.

DAVE KAUP/Reuters
Days after Donald Trump said that he doesn’t like the word “woke” because “half the people can’t define it,” self-described anti-“woke” warrior Ron DeSantis was finally asked to define what it meant. “[Trump] said he doesn’t like to use the word ‘woke’ because people don’t know what it means,” NBC reporter Dasha Burns said to DeSantis during his Iowa campaign event on Saturday. “That’s obviously a big part of your messaging. What do you say to that?” In response, DeSantis insisted: “We know what woke is, it’s a form of cultural Marxism.” Fighting “woke” has been the cornerstone of DeSantis’ 2024 presidential campaign thus far—his answer Saturday struck the same chord. “It’s about putting merit and achievement behind identity politics, and it’s basically a war on the truth. And as that has infected institutions, and it has corrupted institutions.”
DeSantis and Trump are battling it out in the Governor’s first week as a candidate.
— Dasha Burns (@DashaBurns) June 2, 2023
A surprising split came on the “woke” issue with Trump stepping back and DeSantis leaning in.
I asked DeSantis about it today: “You’ve got to be willing to fight the woke”
WATCH: pic.twitter.com/Fjnol60JcO
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.