Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) reiterated his "anti-woke" stance in a radio interview Monday morning, claiming, "I'm the only guy running who's been very clear about that issue."
The Republican presidential candidate has been criticized by many on the Left and even some on the Right for his focus on "culture wars." But DeSantis insisted that it permeates several different areas of society. "This woke ideology impacts the economy, the military, criminal law, everything," he told South Carolina state Sen. Josh Kimbrell on The Morning Answer.
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"Our freedom is under assault as woke infects more institutions," he said. "I've defeated the woke in Florida. As president, together we will defeat the woke all across this country."
He defended his actions against the Walt Disney Company, which some of his Republican primary opponents have dubbed as not "conservative" in principle.
"Every Republican presidential candidate, including Donald Trump, has attacked me for standing up against Disney regarding the sexualization of children," the governor said. "In Florida, we said, 'It's not appropriate to be doing this in school.' They opposed us — they were trying to jam this curriculum into our school. And traditionally, in Florida, if Disney weighed in, they would get their way. But I was willing to stand up. We said no."
The Republicans opposing his battle with the company are "standing with a woke corporation based in Burbank, California, over parents and children," DeSantis said.
"If we can't draw a line in the sand and say, you know what, the kids are off limits, do not bring your agenda to our kids. When they go to school, they have a right to have a traditional, normal education without having a teacher telling a first grader that they may have been born in the wrong body. It's totally unacceptable," DeSantis said.
Earlier this year, Trump criticized DeSantis's fight with Disney, claiming that the governor was getting "destroyed" by the company.
“Disney’s next move will be the announcement that no more money will be invested in Florida because of the governor. In fact, they could even announce a slow withdrawal or sale of certain properties or the whole thing. Watch! That would be a killer," he predicted.
DeSantis shot back, suggesting that Trump was taking Disney's side in the matter, which Trump has denied.
Contrasting himself with his biggest opponent, Trump began to question the term "woke" last month.
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“I don’t like the term ‘woke’ because I hear, ‘Woke, woke, woke.’ It’s just a term they use, half the people can’t even define it. They don’t know what it is," he said during a campaign event.
Trump enjoys a comfortable lead among likely Republican primary voters with 57%, according to Morning Consult. The former president is also beating President Joe Biden by 3% in a hypothetical matchup. DeSantis is in second, with 19%.