Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis embraces coded ‘Brandon’ insult of Biden
ASSOCIATED PRESS
As supporter holds up a Brandon, Florida sign as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, speaks to members of the media before a bill signing in Brandon, Fla.
TAMPA, Fla. >> Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has embraced “Let’s go Brandon.”
The Republican governor today picked the small Tampa suburb of Brandon as the site of a bill signing ceremony, trolling President Joe Biden with a reference to what has become a stand-in for swearing at the president.
The “Let’s Go Brandon” line — code for “F—- Joe Biden” — has grown in popularity among Republicans who want to boost their conservative credentials.
The governor has waged a legal and media campaign against the president over White House vaccine mandates. Running for reelection and eyeing a potential 2024 presidential run, DeSantis has become one of the nation’s most prominent Republicans by opposing public health guidelines during the pandemic.
The DeSantis campaign said it picked Brandon as the place to sign a legislative package meant to hobble coronavirus vaccine mandates pushed by the Biden administration.
DeSantis sidestepped a question about the ceremony’s location.
“I think that Brandon, Florida, is a great American city,” DeSantis said, smiling as a “Let’s go Brandon” chant broke out in the crowd.
