I will point out that “monkey around” is a well known expression while I had not heard “monkey things up” until yesterday. Maybe it’s a Florida thing?
I think it was a handy euphemism for effing things up.
It could easily be that he blended “monkey around” and “muck things up.” There have been plenty of times that I’ve been thinking two things at once and said some combination of both.
As to DeSantis’ comment, he just got through praising his opponent for running a good campaign in the primary and referred to him as articulate. No chance in the world he would then use that pejorative against him. It just doesn’t make sense. Deep down I think the lefties know this, but will gladly use anything they can to attack and besmirch a good man.
My reaction to them is: There wasn’t any racism when the words were spoken, so the racism must’ve been added by the listener(s) who chose to add it in.