A swipe at a fellow candidate’s spouse landed the former president’s team, including a sitting congressman, with the Community Notes treatment over claims of “voter fraud.”
While former President Donald Trump may exclusively keep his commentary to Truth Social, his surrogates and support PACs readily use X. As such, an effort to misrepresent Florida first lady Casey DeSantis’ call for volunteers to “participate” in the Iowa caucus as a threat to election integrity was readily debunked.
Saturday the Make America Great Again Inc. super PAC, which had reportedly spent over $23 million targeting the presidential campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, released a statement in reaction to remarks made by his spouse following a Mamas for DeSantis event in Iowa.
“Yesterday, Casey DeSantis went on national television and called on voters from across the nation to ‘descend upon the state of Iowa to be a part of the caucus.’ She went on to falsely claim, ‘you do not have to be a resident of Iowa to be able to participate in the caucus,'” read the post.
“Statement from Karoline Leavitt,” it continued, “spokeswoman for Make America Great Again Inc: ‘Casey DeSantis’ embrace of voter fraud to salvage her husband’s failing campaign is not just wrong, it risks compromising the integrity of the Iowa Caucus. This type of irresponsible and desperate rhetoric must be addressed by both Ron DeSantis and Governor Kim Reynolds, who campaigned for election integrity and was elected to protect the votes of Iowans. Both Governors DeSantis and Reynolds must reject and condemn these comments and apologize to the great people of Iowa!'”
The Community Note was not long behind and linked to a post that the Florida first lady had made the day prior with a clip of her comments while speaking with Fox News host Martha MacCallum. The note read, “Casey DeSantis made it clear in her statement that voting in the Iowa caucus is limited to registered voters in Iowa. ‘Participating’ in the Iowa caucus is not limited to voting, and includes volunteer work, as she also states.”
DeSantis herself had posted, “While voting in the Iowa caucus is limited to registered voters in Iowa, there is a way for others to participate. I’m calling on mamas and grandmamas from all over the country to come volunteer in support of Ron DeSantis in the Iowa caucus,” she added with a link to the campaign site for volunteers “to get registered to participate!”
We’ve built a nationwide coalition of moms who are mobilized to help elect @RonDeSantis: Mamas for DeSantis.
While voting in the Iowa caucus is limited to registered voters in Iowa, there is a way for others to participate. I’m calling on mamas and grandmamas from all over the… pic.twitter.com/vlVLIHiiUF
— Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) December 8, 2023
The super PAC wasn’t alone in maligning DeSantis’ remarks as Florida Rep. Greg Steube, an active supporter of Trump’s campaign, had run with the same angle on X hours after Leavitt’s statement.
“Last night a Presidential candidate’s spouse encouraged out of state residents to participate in the Iowa caucus. The Iowa GOP responded making it very clear that the Iowa caucus is ONLY for Iowans. Posting this so residents of #FL17 and Florida aren’t confused by her comments,” he wrote.
The post earned Steube his own community note in addition to a callout from Team DeSantis’ Rapid Response Director Christina Pushaw who pointed out his own appearance alongside congressional peers in Iowa stumping for Trump, “Oh, give me a break. Congressman Steube — YOU know that anyone can participate in the Iowa caucus as a volunteer if you want to help a campaign. In fact, you already went to Iowa to campaign for Trump.”
Oh, give me a break. Congressman Steube — YOU know that anyone can participate in the Iowa caucus as a volunteer if you want to help a campaign. In fact, you already went to Iowa to campaign for Trump. https://t.co/RcJaL8GLac pic.twitter.com/pTcSQd48cl
— Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) December 9, 2023
As had been reported, the president’s brief appearance at Iowa State Fair had included Steube, Florida Reps. Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna, Brian Mast, Cory Mills, and Mike Waltz as well as Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt.
This summer Trump flew in his Florida Delegation to Iowa to voluntarily stump for him at the Iowa State fair, One of those members was @gregsteube pictured below, Now Steube is attacking @CaseyDeSantis with LIES for doing the exact same thing. #DeSantis2024 #withDeSantis pic.twitter.com/JUchwak5TO
— KRYSTAL In FL (@MsBradsher) December 9, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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