Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is blaming former President Donald Trump in part for making so-called gender ideology mainstream.
During an interview with conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, DeSantis said, “I think, you know, identifying Donald Trump as really being a pioneer in injecting gender ideology into the mainstream where he was having men compete against women in his beauty pageants, I think that’s totally fair game.”
“He’s now campaigning saying the opposite, that he doesn’t think that you should have men competing in women’s things like athletics,” the governor added.
Watch the video below:
WATCH: Ron DeSantis defends viral LGBT-Trump video reposted by @DeSantisWarRoom, says Trump a "pioneer" in making gender ideology "mainstream"
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) July 6, 2023
"He was having men compete against women in his beauty pageants – I think that’s totally fair game." pic.twitter.com/9NfQlJZYZB
The phrase “gender ideology” has been used by conservatives to refer to an acceptance of transgender people and a subversion of traditional gender roles and morality.
Last month DeSantis’ campaign released an ad featuring Trump’s various comments in support of the LGBT community.
One video showed Trump saying he would be OK with Caitlyn Jenner, a former Olympic athlete who came out as transgender in 2015, using any bathroom.
In case you missed it:
To wrap up “Pride Month,” let’s hear from the politician who did more than any other Republican to celebrate it…
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) June 30, 2023
https://t.co/FT7LdW4vls
In 2012, Trump was the owner of the Miss Universe Pageant when its ban on transgender contestants ended.
However, the former president has since started to criticize transgender competitors participating in competitions that do not correspond to their biological sex.
In 2022, he promised to “ban men from participating in women’s sports,” if he was re-elected.
And in February 2023, he argued it is “demeaning to women” to let transgender athletes compete in women’s sports.