Ron DeSantis' facial gestures provide another meme-worthy moment from GOP debate and it is hyss-terical

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis once again raised eyebrows with his peculiar habit of awkwardly licking his lips during the final GOP debate of 2023.

The debate, held at the University of Alabama on Wednesday night, December 6, unfolded less than six weeks before the crucial Iowa caucuses, featuring a clash of perspectives among four notable candidates.

Social media buzz

The Lincoln Project, known for its critical stance against DeSantis and Donald Trump, had previously released a video mocking his lip-licking tendencies. This time, during the clash hosted by NewsNation, part of the Nexstar Media Group, social media erupted with commentary on DeSantis's peculiar mouth antics.

"The boy ain’t right," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"He’s broken someone press the reset button," another quipped.

"He is a reptile from Florida," a comment read.

"Too bad Pence's fly couldn't be at the event tonight. Ron looks hungry," someone else joked.

"Despite all the media training he can’t stop making weird faces," another chimed in.

Despite the candidate's extensive media training, DeSantis continues to attract attention for unconventional behaviors.

Past incidents include wiping his nose and touching a supporter, denying reports of eating pudding with his fingers, responding defensively to questions about alleged lifts in his shoes, displaying exaggerated facial expressions while speaking, and making awkward attempts to smile during debates.

Final GOP debate of 2023

The debate, moderated by Elizabeth Vargas of NewsNation, Megyn Kelly of SiriusXM, and Eliana Johnson of the Washington Free Beacon, featured only four candidates due to stricter qualifying criteria. Alongside DeSantis were former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

Former president Trump, who holds a significant lead in polls, did not participate in the debate. Despite his absence, the Trump factor loomed large, with candidates Christie and Ramaswamy positioning themselves as less sycophantic alternatives.

Christie, a former adviser to Trump, highlighted the importance of addressing truths about the former president. "I’m in this race because the truth needs to be spoken about Trump," he declared during the debate.

He highlighted his years of advising Trump but also noted his shift in perspective, stating, "There is no bigger issue in this race than Donald Trump.”

Ramaswamy, armed with one-liners, criticized the close ties of his rivals to Trump. "All three of them have been licking Donald Trump's boots for years," he quipped during the debate.

DeSantis, meanwhile, showcased his debating skills by sidestepping direct questions. Despite Christie's accusations of evasion, DeSantis maintained his message throughout the debate.

When confronted about sending the US military into Gaza to secure hostages, DeSantis remained elusive, leaving the question unanswered. Similarly, on the topic of squaring his call for shooting suspected drug dealers at the US-Mexico border with the law, clarity remained elusive.

Christie called him out on these evasive tactics, stating, "Ron gets asked a question, and he doesn’t answer it." He emphasized the importance of decisiveness, particularly for a presidential candidate.

"When you're president of the United States, you're not going to have a choice whether to answer that question or not," Christie remarked, adding, "You can't give a 90-second speech about your military service."

Some GOP voters might have been turned off by DeSantis's evasive actions, but these tactics demonstrated that the Florida governor is resolute in sticking to the message he wants to deliver.

While at times appearing a little redundant — twice admonishing people to "buckle up" and twice declaring himself "the new sheriff in town" — DeSantis never seemed to be knocked off-balance as he skillfully tiptoed around questions.