“Clueless moron” Ron DeSantis viciously mocked for saying Iraqi men wear “man dresses”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is being skewered in the press and on social media for referring to traditional Islamic garb as “man dresses” during the fourth and final Republican presidential debate.

DeSantis had been asked about a previous claim that he would send troops to use deadly force against anyone smuggling drugs over the Southern border.

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In his response, he brought up his time serving in Iraq.

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“When I was in Iraq, the Al Qaeda wasn’t wearing a uniform. You’d see anyone walking down the street, they all had man dresses on. You didn’t know if they had a bomb, an IED, attached or not,” he said.

DeSantis was referring to what in the Middle East are called thobes, which people use to stay cool in the heat while also staying modest. With a mix of outrage and humor, social media users wasted no time calling out DeSantis for his choice of words.

DeSantis calling traditional garb "man dresses" is beyond the pale.

It was already obvious he's racist, but the fact that that disgusting remark went unchallenged–with two Indian Americans who clearly understand cultural dress on the stage–is even more gross.

— Ashleigh Marie Brown (@typeamb) December 7, 2023

I'd pay $50 a day to just have DeSantis walk out to the cameras and say "MAN DRESSES!" then drop the mic and walk away

— FilmLadd (@FilmLadd) December 7, 2023

Sure, let's insult anybody who doesn't dress like us 🙄https://t.co/IiYvYXvxzN

Florida governor Ron DeSantis called the clothing worn by al Qaeda ‘man dresses’ during the fourth GOP primary debate.

— ResistUSA 🌻 🇺🇦 (@ResistVA) December 7, 2023

Ron DeSantis – Do you call the attire of Catholic priests “man dresses”? pic.twitter.com/xOPH6EtG3r

— Barbara Godvin Riney 🌎 (@BarbaraRiney) December 7, 2023

Rob DeSantis saying Muslim men wear “man dresses” was not on my bingo card for tonight’s GOP debate. He’s not fit for any public office, let alone President.

— Jen Cousins 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🇵🇸 (@JenCousinsFL) December 7, 2023

People in the Middle East have worn long flowing robes for centuries. They keep wearers cool in the desert heat and the pious appreciate them for their modesty.
Ron DeSantis calls them 'man dresses'#republicanDebate https://t.co/hoDVHSIZJr

— Rob Crilly (@robcrilly) December 7, 2023

Wow Desantis just referred to men in Iraq as wearing “man dresses” …..he is done

— JusticeForThee11! 💙🟧🇺🇸🌊 (@JusticeDr11) December 7, 2023

DeSantis calls Muslim clothing “man dresses”. Ugh clueless moron

— It is the way (@LancePinkham) December 7, 2023

DeSantis talking about “man dresses” while wearing heels is something else lol #GOPDebate

— ★Briana★ (@briana__gomez) December 7, 2023

At the GOP debate, Ron DeSantis calls Middle Eastern garb 'man dresses' – NBC News

Cementing his reputation as an asshole. This from someone with lifts in his shoes. https://t.co/ExkIbwiaeB

— Guess who (@flaGolfer55) December 7, 2023

I think it’s odd that DeSantis said man dresses like it’s an insult when he wears high heels on a daily basis. #GOPDebate

— Justice Dominguez (@justicedeveraux) December 7, 2023

Ron DeSantis said he saw everyone in Iraq wearing “man dresses” he’s a real diplomat that one 😭

— Agree2Disagree (Magic 14-6 🥹) (@HotTakeGabe407) December 7, 2023

The debate also featured lots of transphobia. DeSantis said Nikki Haley supports the “gender mutilation of minors” and “irreversible” puberty blockers, adding, “It’s child abuse and it’s wrong.” In reality, genital surgeries aren’t conducted on minors, puberty blockers have been used safely on children for decades, and every major U.S. medical association considers gender-affirming care safe and essential to trans youths’ well-being.

DeSantis and Haley then got into a battle over who was better at targeting trans folks.

Haley accused DeSantis of misrepresenting her record, replying, “I said that if you have to be 18 to get a tattoo, you should have to be 18 to have anything done to change your gender.”

Haley then noted that when DeSantis ran for governor in 2018, he said fighting the “[trans] bathroom wars” was not “a good use of our time.” DeSantis said that, as governor, he signed a transphobic bathroom bill while Haley, as former governor of South Carolina, didn’t. She said her constituents hadn’t requested such a bill. DeSantis replied, “I stood up for little girls — you didn’t do it,” villainizing trans people as child sex predators.