Ron DeSantis tells customers at bar: 'I'll serve you anything except Bud Light'

DeSantis, aged 44, was mixing up beverages for the crowd at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9211 bar - which is affectionately known as "the Bunker" to patrons - in Reno, Nevada.

While serving the beverages, DeSantis can be heard telling the public that he’d serve them "anything except Bud Light", per the New York Post.

His lighthearted jest at Bud Light's expense was likely a subtle jab at the brand's recent partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, a move that has sparked controversy since its announcement in early April.

Causing those at the bar to erupt in laughter, DeSantis confidently declared: "Just so you know, I’ll serve you anything except Bud Light."

Of course, one person who has not found humor in the Bud Light backlash is Mulvaney, who has been met with a tirade of vile transphobic comments about her on social media.

in a recent interview with Them, Mulvaney revealed that the backlash to her Bud Light partnership had left her fearful about how people will treat her in public.

"I’m scared," she told the publication. "I never expected to have people following me, or experience such negative media attention. I walk into a room and I never know if somebody is going to really love me or really hate me."

But when she was asked to go into detail about some of the big-name stars who spoke out against her, Mulvaney gracefully responded: "I prefer not to name any of those people, because it gives them the satisfaction of believing they’re on my mind."

"It shows my followers that I’m standing up for myself," she added, "but also pushes that their narrative is loud enough to matter."

DeSantis' off-the-cuff comment comes he is currently riding a wave of support with polling at about 20%, according to a RealClearPolitics average of GOP presidential primary polls.

The Florida Governor, not stopping at just slinging drinks, also treated the patrons to a round of "on the house" drinks. He was seen clinking glasses with attendees and even sipped on a draft beer himself during his stint as a bartender.

Joining DeSantis at the VFW post was his long-time friend and former roommate, Adam Laxalt, who previously served as Nevada's attorney general. Laxalt recently missed out on a 2022 Senate seat, losing narrowly to incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).

The bar visit was part of a larger campaign stop in Nevada. DeSantis, alongside his wife Casey and their three children, also attended the Reno Rodeo Friday night. The family then made their way to the 8th Annual Morning in Nevada PAC’s Basque Fry in Gardnerville, Nev., where DeSantis delivered remarks.

The campaign stop marked DeSantis's first visit to Nevada since the launch of his 2024 White House campaign last month.

The state holds significant importance for his run as it is among the earliest GOP presidential primary states. The recent engagement and his Bud Light joke only seem to further cement his growing popularity among GOP supporters.

Featured image credit: Win McNamee / Getty