Ron DeSantis Campaign Fires Staffer for Sharing Nazi Imagery Video
A campaign staffer for Ron DeSantis has been fired after sharing a video containing Nazi imagery on social media. Nate Hochman, a 25-year-old member of the campaign communications staff, shared the video featuring a meme template associated with far-right and neo-fascist creators. The video depicted a character called wojack watching as the Florida seal transformed into the Sonnenrad symbol, a symbol appropriated by the Nazis. DeSantis’s face was superimposed on the icon, alongside footage of soldiers marching in formation. The video was retweeted by Hochman before being deleted. Hochman had also retweeted other posts from an anonymous pro-DeSantis account.
A spokesperson for the DeSantis campaign confirmed Hochman’s departure, stating, Nate Hochman is no longer with the campaign. However, they declined to comment further on the matter.
The anonymous account responsible for sharing the video also posted content comparing DeSantis to fascists and included footage of Nazis and Benito Mussolini. This account had been retweeted by the DeSantis campaign’s War Room account and the DeSantis-linked Never Back Down super PAC account.
This incident follows another controversial video promoted by the DeSantis campaign, which used far-right and neo-fascist aesthetics to champion DeSantis’s anti-LGBT+ agenda and criticize the existence of transgender individuals. The video, attributed to a campaign staffer, was designed to appear as if it was created externally.
These videos have shed light on the increasing influence of fringe far-right online communities within mainstream Republican spaces. From the use of violent authoritarian dark MAGA memes to the prevalence of fashwave aesthetics on social media platforms, the prominence of these ideas within political campaigns is growing.
Since launching his bid for the 2024 Republican nomination for president, the DeSantis campaign has fired over 40% of its original staff. As of July 25th, at least 38 staffers had been laid off. The reason for these dismissals was not specified.
This story highlights the role of social media in political campaigns and the need for vigilance in monitoring the content shared by campaign staff. It also raises questions about the responsibility of political organizations in curating their online presence and ensuring that divisive and offensive material is not promoted.
The firing of Nate Hochman serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of online actions for those working in the political sphere. It remains to be seen how this incident will impact the DeSantis campaign and its future endeavors.
