DeSantis Spreads Misinformation About Math Teachers’ Halloween Attire

In a swift turn of events, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis shared a viral social media post alleging that Arizona teachers were “glorifying a murder” through Halloween costumes supposedly referencing the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The controversy has since been clarified by school officials, who maintain the costumes were entirely unrelated to any political figure.

The disputed image shows teachers from Cienega High School’s math department wearing white T-shirts with fake blood splatters and the phrase “Problem Solved” printed across the front. Andrew Kolvet, spokesperson for Turning Point USA, initially shared the photo with allegations that it mocked Kirk’s recent murder, prompting DeSantis to amplify the claim to his followers.

“It’s been really disturbing to see teachers across the country glorifying a murder just because they disagreed with the victim,” DeSantis wrote on X on November 1, quoting Kolvet’s post. The Florida governor was among numerous conservative figures, including Utah Senator Mike Lee and former swimmer Riley Gaines, who shared the image and accused the teachers of mocking Kirk’s death.

Vail School District Superintendent John Carruth quickly addressed the situation, confirming that the costumes were related to mathematics, not politics. “The shirts were worn in reference to solving math problems,” Carruth stated. “Any references that these shirts were related to something other than that are simply false and untrue.”

The district provided compelling evidence to support their explanation. Christopher King, a school board member and Republican candidate for Arizona’s state Senate, shared an email chain dated October 31, 2024, showing the same teachers wearing identical shirts a year earlier—well before Kirk’s death in September 2025.

“Here are the same teachers last year wearing the same shirt,” King wrote. “They are math teachers making a math joke for Halloween. They’re not attacking anyone.”

The controversy highlights the charged political atmosphere following Kirk’s death. The 32-year-old co-founder of conservative group Turning Point USA was shot and killed on September 10 during a public event in Utah. Authorities have described it as a targeted attack, though investigations into the motive continue. The incident has been portrayed across conservative media as symbolic of escalating hostility toward right-wing figures.

This heightened sensitivity created an environment where the Arizona teachers’ Halloween photo could be quickly misinterpreted and spread online. After seeing evidence that the costumes predated Kirk’s death, Kolvet partially walked back his allegations.

“We’ve seen enough evil since Charlie’s murder that I’d actually be relieved if this isn’t another example,” he wrote on X. “That being said, it’s a very weird costume for teachers in general, but after what happened to Charlie, I’m absolutely floored they wore it again.”

DeSantis similarly posted a follow-up acknowledging the school district’s explanation, though without clearly retracting his earlier statement. “Here is the explanation from the school district re: the bloody shirts. Some have cast doubt on this explanation, but people can read it and decide for themselves,” he wrote.

Despite the clarification, some social media users continued to suggest—without evidence—that the photo showing the teachers wearing the same costumes last year was AI-generated, edited, or also from this year.

The situation has reportedly led to teachers being targeted online. A screenshot circulating on social media listed names and phone numbers of staff members pictured in this year’s photo, prompting Superintendent Carruth to express concern that individuals “were being targeted online as a result of this misunderstanding.”

The incident demonstrates how quickly unverified claims can spread in today’s polarized political environment, particularly when involving politically sensitive topics. It also highlights the real-world consequences when public figures with large platforms share allegations before verifying their accuracy.

While some commentators have called for the teachers to be fired, others have criticized the targeting of educators who appear to have been engaging in an innocent, math-themed Halloween tradition that predated any connection to current events.

The Vail School District has indicated the shirts will not be worn again, despite maintaining they were “not intended as a reference to any person, event, or political issue.”