Is the 'Prince of Darkness' Doomed? See Experts Say Ron DeSantis' Presidential Hopes Slide With Twisted Ad Aimed At Trump

The ad, which aimed to link Donald Trump to the LGBTQ community, has faced widespread criticism from conservatives and liberals alike.

This prompted regular "Morning Joe" contributor Deutsch to unleash a scathing critique of the Florida Republican, dubbing him the "Prince of Darkness."

After host Willie Geist played the clip for the MSNBC panel, Deutsch remained perplexed about the intended target audience of the ad.

"First and foremost, DeSantis is floundering," Deutsch began. "He is desperately trying to position himself further to the right of Trump. But this LGBTQ approach...do you really think it's resonating with voters? Is he trying to portray Trump as a champion of this group?"

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"As someone who works in advertising, there's one thing I've learned over the years: people aren't fools," Deutsch elaborated. "I can't imagine any voter watching that ad and thinking, 'You know what, DeSantis, you're my guy.'"

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He continued, "DeSantis is a deeply troubling figure. I've discussed it extensively on this show.

Despite our criticisms, there's a certain likability to candidate Trump if you're a Trump supporter. He's entertaining, like a lounge act. But this guy [DeSantis] is just dark, the epitome of darkness. That ad is one of the most twisted, bizarre, and deviant ads I've ever seen."

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Deutsch's scathing remarks shed light on the widespread confusion and criticism surrounding DeSantis' ad.

The branding expert's analysis underscores the questionable strategy employed by the Florida Republican, as he attempts to align himself with Trump and appeal to conservative voters.

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However, Deutsch's assessment suggests that DeSantis' tactics may be doing more harm than good, alienating potential supporters and further tarnishing his image.

As the 2024 presidential race heats up, DeSantis will need to reassess his messaging and approach if he hopes to gain traction and secure the support he seeks.