Florida Governor and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis expressed his disapproval of the Satanic Temple display in Iowa’s Capitol Building during a CNN town hall.
He criticized the IRS’s recognition of the group as a church during the Trump administration, questioning whether Satanism qualifies as a religion envisioned by the founding fathers.
DeSantis suggested that the display should be removed and expressed willingness to fight legal challenges if necessary. (Trending: Tucker Carlson Reveals ‘Secret’ Project He’s Been Working On For Months)
He emphasized his surprise at the IRS’s decision and reiterated his belief that recognizing Satan as a religion is wrong.
“Republicans are divided over a new Satanic Temple holiday display in the State Capitol building. Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) — who has endorsed you — she says it is, ‘absolutely objectionable.’ But ‘In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech,’ some Republicans are calling for it to come down. What do you think? Should that display be allowed in the Capitol?” CNN’s Jake Tapper asked.
“So, it’s interesting, I heard this and then I was like, well, how did it get there? Is that even a religion? And lo and behold, the Trump administration gave them approval to be under the IRS as a religion,” DeSantis said.
“So, that gave them the legal ability to potentially do it. So, I don’t know what the legislature, what they — how they analyzed it.”
“But it very well may be because of that ruling under Donald Trump that they may have had a legal leg to stand on. My view would be, that’s not a religion that the founding fathers were trying to create.”
“But I do you think that IRS ruling — I was really surprised to see that they did that.”
“[T]hey recognized it as a religion, because otherwise, you wouldn’t have been able to do it. I don’t think that was the right decision. We’re going to recognize Satan as a religion? That’s wrong.”
“But you think that they should take it down in the Capitol?” Tapper pressed.
“Yeah, look — I think if they are going to get sued on it, I think you fight that fight,” DeSantis said.
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