First Lady in waiting: Ron DeSantis’ wife Casey dazzles at Florida governor’s inaugural ball

Casey DeSantis has taken another opportunity to prove her political prowess – making it clear to the world that she is perfect First Lady material, while joining her husband Ron at his inauguration ball – an event that has been coyly described as a ‘dress rehearsal’ for his expected presidential run.

But as it turns out, the event may well have been as much a dress rehearsal for Casey as it was for her husband.  

While the event was focused on Governor DeSantis, he ultimately had to share his moment in the spotlight with his 46-year-old spouse, a political dynamo in her own right, who is said to have had her sights set on the role of First Lady for years – while her influence behind the scenes has been compared to that of Nancy Reagan over her husband Ronald. 

On Tuesday night, Casey found herself in the perfect place to once again prove herself as the perfect First Lady in waiting – putting on what social media users described as an ‘elegant and classy’ display worthy of the likes of Jackie Kennedy and Mrs. Reagan.  

The ex-journalist and mother-of-three dazzled in a glitzy gold dress, which she wore with a pair of matching pumps, her hair swept up into an Audrey Hepburn-esque ‘do for the occasion, during which she delighted onlookers while dancing with her husband to Sweet Florida. 

Governor Ron DeSantis twirled his wife and first lady Casey DeSantis, who donned a gold tea-length dress, during an on-stage dance at his second inaugural ball on Tuesday

Casey’s former colleagues have reportedly said she’s gunning for the White House. She’s pictured left and on the right is Jackie Kennedy wearing a green dress and white gloves

The couple and their three children, two-year-old Mamie, four-year-old Mason and five-year-old Madison

Her glamorous appearance on Tuesday night followed hot on the heels of her elegant display in the day, channeling former First Lady Jackie Kennedy, aka Jackie O, with her white gloves and $2,600 Alex Perry caped dress.

It’s a well-known secret to political insiders that Casey is widely recognized as Ron’s closest advisor and confidante, a de facto member of his staff and a driving force behind his success.

Casey’s former co-workers told Vanity Fair earlier this year: ‘I remember I once said [to a colleague], “Casey wants to be a senator’s wife.” And he said, “No, she fully intends on being a president’s wife.”‘

But on Tuesday, it appeared Casey was also taking sartorial inspiration from not only Jackie and Nancy, but Hillary Clinton, Mamie Eisenhower, Laura Bush and Michelle Obama – who all chose a bit of sparkle for their President husbands’ inaugural balls.

Nancy wore sequined white gowns for both of husband Ronald’s inaugural balls, first in 1981 and then 1985.

In 1981, she paired a white-beaded one-shouldered sheath gown of lace over silk satin with matching opera length gloves.  

Like Casey she also had her hair pulled up in a coiffed updo.

The frock was designed by James Galanos, according to the Smithsonian.

Casey’s former colleagues have said: ‘I remember I once said [to a colleague], “Casey wants to be a senator’s wife.” And he said, “No, she fully intends on being a president’s wife.

Florida’s First Lady appeared to take style inspiration not only from Jackie, but Nancy Reagan (pictured  in 1985) as well

In 1997, Hillary Clinton stunned in a high-neck gold lace dress by Oscar de la Renta to Bill’s inaugural ball

She opted for the same designer for his second inauguration, but this time it was a white long-sleeved version, which reportedly cost $46,000.

Meanwhile Michelle was also a fan of a bit of sparkle and wore a Jason Wu-designed one-shouldered, embroidered white silk chiffon gown during husband Barack’s inaugural ball in 2009.

And on another occasion she wore a strapless gold brocade gown to the Phoenix Awards Dinner in 2016.

In 1997, Hillary Clinton stunned in a high-neck gold lace dress by Oscar de la Renta for her husband Bill’s inauguration. Similarly Hillary also finished off her look with her hair pulled back in an elegant updo.

Casey (left) also channeled Melania (right) who wore pastel and gloves for husband Donald’s inauguration in 2017

The couple with their children Mason, Madison and Mamie on Tuesday’s inauguration day

The DeSantis family waves at the crowd as they emerge from the Old Capitol. Casey wears a $2,600 Alex Perry dress 

Going back even further to 1957, Mamie Eisenhower, wife of Dwight D. Eisenhower, wore a Nettie Rosenstein off-the-shoulder beaded gown with an embroidered ‘M’ on her matching bag and, of course, long white gloves.

And the sartorially impeccable Jackie joined in on the bling ring with a beaded bodice when her husband, John F. Kennedy, was elected to office.  

Casey’s apparent homage to the First Ladies before her didn’t go unnoticed, with supporters gunning for the couple to embark on a run for presidency. 

‘We love y’all! Some serious “Kennedy vibes” with this pic! We NEED (sic) you guys in the White House!’ one fan said.

‘Amen to that. Would love to see you run for President. We need his leadership and y’all would make a great first family,’ another wrote.

Mamie Eisenhower, wife of Dwight D. Eisenhower, wearing a Nettie Rosenstein beaded gown with an embroidered ‘M’ on her matching bag and, of course, long white gloves

Michelle was also a fan of a bit of sparkle and wore a Jason Wu-designed one-shouldered, embroidered white silk chiffon gown during husband Barack’s inaugural ball in 2009 

And on another occasion she wore a strapless gold brocade gown to the Phoenix Awards Dinner in 2016 

The sartorially impeccable Jackie joined in on the bling ring with a beaded bodice when her husband, John F. Kennedy, was elected to office in 1961

A third added: ‘Can’t wait until you’re our First Lady!’

Conservative radio host Dana Loesch also weighed in, saying: ‘They haven’t put a foot wrong. And @CaseyDeSantis’s dress is classic.’

Others also appreciated Casey’s inauguration outfits.

‘Casey DeSantis looked lovely as always today, but as soon as I saw that dress, all I thought was Melania. Just say’n,’ one person said.

‘Jackie O vibes,’ someone else simply added.

Another thought she was looking at the Princess of Wales for inspiration.

‘Channeling Princess Kate and I am here for it! You look stunning!’ they said.

Earlier in the day, Casey wore classy ensemble, which was centered around a $2,600 pale green caped dress from Alex Perry and featured white gloves.

It was remarkably similar to outfits previously worn by both Jackie and Melania Trump during their husbands’ time in office. 

DeSantis supporters said they hoped Ron would consider a run for US president and praised Casey for channeling not only Jackie O, but Melania Trump as well

Casey then topped off the look with silver hooped earrings and a pair of timeless cream pumps at her husband’s inauguration at the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida.

Ron, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, was sworn in to a second term Tuesday, saying freedom lives in Florida.

He defeated Democrat Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor and Democratic congressman, by more than 29 percentage points in November.

It was a huge blowout in a state known for close elections, and other Republicans on the statewide ballot won by similar margins.

Ron was born in Jacksonville, and boasts an impressive education pedigree with degrees from both Yale and Harvard Law – even captaining the former’s baseball team.

Ron DeSantis has rocketed to the forefront of potential candidates for president in 2024 after his landslide re-election and insiders say his fortunes have been molded by his ambitious wife, Casey. Pictured are the two at their wedding at Disney World in Orlando in 2010

The ex-journalist is the ’emotional tuning fork’ who softens a man, in DeSantis, that ex staff have described as a ‘bully’ with ‘the personality of a piece of paper’

From Harvard, he enlisted in the Navy, where he was quickly assigned to its famed legal faction, the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG), and worked with detainees at Guantanamo Bay and as a legal aide for Navy SEALS in Iraq.

Speaking to the The New Yorker, a friend said that Ron, still a law student at Harvard, was inspired to join the Navy after watching A Few Good Men, in which Tom Cruise plays a JAG lawyer.

Casey DeSantis, pictured June 2015. She used her media training to polish his image for the national stage

Ron left the service in 2010, and married Casey, who was then a local TV newscaster called ‘one of the most recognizable faces on Jacksonville television,’ within a year of meeting her on a golf driving range at a white wedding at Disney World, Orlando.

It was a storybook union, sealed in a place where fairy tales are the currency, and within 12 years, they would be the Republican golden couple.

Despite a public battle with cancer that went into remission in March, Casey has remained as hands-on as ever, attending almost all of her husband’s campaign events and even answering his emails.

Polished and articulate, the potential first lady has spearhead several fundraising efforts for her husband, for causes ranging from cancer research and recovery efforts for Hurricane Ian.

The ex-journalist is the ’emotional tuning fork’ who softens a man that ex-staff have described as a ‘bully’ with ‘the personality of a piece of paper,’ insiders close to Ron’s office told Vanity Fair this month. 

Their joint ambition and drive, combined with talk from pundits that 2024 will be their year, has certainly rankled the 44-year-old Florida Governor’s old mentor-turned-frenemy Donald Trump.

Among his attacks on a man he dubbed ‘Ron DeSanctimonious’, the ex-President hinted he would be quick to go on the attack against his friend-turned-foe.

In an interview with DailyMail.com on Trump Force One in November, Trump said: ‘I don’t know if DeSantis is going to run… But if he did run I could tell you things about him that won’t be very flattering. I know more about him other than perhaps his wife.’

Even Trump went on to describe Casey as the one ‘who’s really running his (Ron’s) campaign.’

Ron, meanwhile – who has been repeatedly likened to Trump – is a relative newcomer to politics, having been elected to Florida’s House of Representatives in 2012 and then governor a mere six years later.

When Ron went on to win, Casey immediately became an unofficial member of his staff. 

A former congressional staffer recalled to Vanity Fair how ‘[Casey] was looped in on every email and calendar invite’ at the time – a practice sources said she still maintains.

‘If Casey said jump,’ the source continued of the former newswoman’s incredible influence, ‘we would pull out the trampoline.’