Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis found himself at the center of social media mockery after his recent interview with CNN's Jake Tapper.
During the interview, Tapper questioned DeSantis about his push further to the right, which some critics believed might alienate voters.
In response, DeSantis confidently stressed his record in Florida, replying:
"I don't think it's true. The proof is in the pudding."
You can watch the moment in the video below.
The dessert-themed phrase brought back memories of a peculiar incident from 2019. The Daily Beast reported that DeSantis was seen eating chocolate pudding with three fingers during a private flight.
While DeSantis denied the report, the unusual image stuck in the minds of many, leading to jokes and ridicule from late-night comedians and even inspiring a quirky ad from the Trump campaign.
At the time, critics and opponents seized the opportunity to poke fun at the candidate, using the hashtag #PuddingGate to share their thoughts and memes.
As soon as DeSantis repeated his "proof is in the pudding" remark, social media users quickly made the connection to the chocolate pudding incident, causing a wave of amusement and mocking comments online.
During his pre-campaign trail activities, where he was essentially campaigning without officially declaring his White House run, DeSantis faced accusations of being a "plastic" politician.
Interestingly, there appears to be a bipartisan consensus that DeSantis does not come off well when in the company of the average American voter, as noted by people who who've worked with him on the campaign trail.
DeSantis has continued to face criticism amid concerns among Republican operatives about his apparent lack of social skills or personality.
According to the New York Times, the governor had to be reminded to maintain eye contact and shake hands during his visit to Iowa, further fueling the perception of a disconnect with everyday people.
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