Deh-Santis or Dee-Santis? Even He Has Been Inconsistent
It is difficult to name many names in politics. Pete Buttigieg sells t-shirts to supporters of his 2020 presidential campaign. There were instructions on how to pronounce his Maltese surname.. In this year’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election, Janet Protasewicz ran ads that showed people distorting his Polish name..
But it’s hard to recall a prominent American politician who has offered alternative pronunciations of his name before Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
When he was Sworn in for a second term As governor in January, he said, “I, Ron Deh-Santos.” this month, He started a video For the National Day of Prayer by saying, “I’m Gov. Ron DeSantis.”
As he launched his campaign on Wednesday with a rambling Twitter appearance and an interview on Fox News, he twice invited supporters to visit “Ron Deh-Santis dot com.” But in his first campaign video, he introduced himself by saying, “I’m Ron DeSantis.”
Mr. DeSantis grew up and started his career in 2012 as himself. Ron DeSantiswho is a campaign spokesperson. told the Tampa Bay Times In 2018 he preferred to say: But in 2016, when he was in Congress, Mr. DeSantis changed his name to Deh-Santis. A video for the House Oversight Committee. His campaign did not respond to requests for comment this week.
By late last year, Mr. DeSantis was alternating between long and short vowel sounds in his last name. For a video wishing Indian Americans a “Happy Diwali”. He said DeSantis. A few weeks later, it was Deh-Santis. In your thank you message.
It’s worth noting that a few other people say Dee-Santis. Georgia Rep. Rich McCormick, who endorsed the Florida governor on Tuesday, Deh-Santis said. Likewise one The Democratic group is attacking it. On the occasion of his presidential announcement. And perhaps most importantly, Mr. DeSantis’ wife, Casey, has consistently used the family name Deh-Santis, including in two memorable TV commercials that helped him. 2018 And 2022.
If elected president, Mr. DeSantis would not be the only world leader with a history of changing how he says his name. Prime Minister Anthony Albany According to , Australia has also changed the pronunciation of its last name. 2019 report From Australian public broadcaster ABC. He said inside A TV interview Then people call him by his nickname: Albo. “You can’t get it wrong,” he said.
Mr. DeSantis, who the Tampa Bay Times wrote was known as “D” in high school, has no easy way out of his name question.
Mr. DeSantis may offer more clarification when his campaign starts running television ads, because at some point he will be required by federal law to say the words: “I am Ron DeSantis and I approve of this message. I do.”