'Critics wincing': DeSantis’ 'odd smile attempt' during GOP debate brutally mocked by detractors

When Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis enjoyed a landslide 19 percent reelection victory over Democratic nominee Charlie Crist in 2022, his cheerleaders anxiously awaited his presidential campaign. But so far, DeSantis has trailed GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump badly in poll after poll.

Many pundits are arguing that DeSantis is coming across as stiff and awkward on the campaign trail. That awkwardness, HuffPost's Ed Mazza contends, was evident on Wednesday night, August 23 when DeSantis appeared in the GOP's first 2024 presidential debate.

"DeSantis' odd facial expressions and mannerisms have often been turned into jokes and memes on social media," Mazza writes in a HuffPost article published after the debate. "In spring, his awkward laugh cracked up his critics on X, then known as Twitter. After Wednesday night's debate, his odd smile attempt had many of his critics wincing."

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Mazza made his point by posting some tweeted videos of DeSantis, during the debate, smiling after declaring, "We will get the job done, and I will not let you down."

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Read HuffPost's full article at this link and watch the GOP debate video below or here.