DeSantis backs Christian who beheaded Satanic display at Iowa Capitol
DES MOINES, Iowa – Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday morning he will donate to a Christian veteran’s legal defense fund who beheaded and destroyed a Satanic display at the Iowa State Capitol this week.
The display drew intense ire from conservatives and Republicans, including DeSantis, who said Satanism should not be recognized by any government in the U.S. as a religion.
“Satan has no place in our society,” DeSantis said. “I’ll chip in to contribute to this veteran’s legal defense fund. Good prevails over evil — that’s the American spirit.”
The Republic Sentinel reported that Michael Cassidy reached an initial $20,000 needed for defense costs, but the page on GiveSendGo could reopen if costs increase.
“Thanks @RonDeSantis!” the Sentinel said. “We at @RepubSentinel raised the $20,000 needed by @VoteCassidy in a few hours and paused the campaign at his direction. We will reach out if more funds are needed.”
Cassidy is a former military officer.
The Satanic Temple Iowa gained approval for their display at the Capitol this week. The group said it advocates for bodily autonomy, rejects arbitrary authority and more.
“Overwhelmed by the support I’ve received so far, thank you,” Cassidy said on Thursday. “We’re going to win. God bless America.”
Cassidy told the Republic Sentinel that he went after the Satanic display to “awaken Christians to the anti-Christian acts promoted by our government.”
“Anti-Christian values have steadily been mainstreamed more and more in recent decades, and Christians have largely acted like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot of water,” he said.
Cassidy argued that the American Founding Fathers would not have approved a Satanic altar for display under the First Amendment in a government building.
The Sentinel said Cassidy turned himself into Iowa Capitol police, and the Satanic Temple of Iowa will reportedly press charges.
DeSantis said earlier this week that the government should not recognize Satanism as a religion.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who endorsed DeSantis for president in 2024, issued a statement earlier this week calling the display “objectionable.”
“In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me today in praying over the Capitol and recognizing the nativity scene that will be on display – the true reason for the season,” Reynolds said.
“Truly humbled by y’alls support,” Cassidy said early Friday morning. “We raised the $20k we were looking for in just a couple hours. I directed the campaign to be paused – we have enough for now.”
