DeSantis Responds Directly To Trump’s Attacks On Florida’s Handling Of Pandemic

Ryan SaavedraJanuary 31, 2023

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday ignored a series of weekend broadsides by former President Trump who tried to portray him as pro-lockdown in the early days of COVID.

Trump in a Series of comments to reporters and in social media posts, claimed credit for his fellow Republican’s success, called him a “globalist” Who would you be? “disloyal” DeSantis was asked to run for the presidency in 2024, and he tried to give Trumpian status to DeSantis. “Ron DeSanctimonius.” The attacks did not seem to have affected the Sunshine State governor.

“I roll out of bed, I have people attacking me from all angles. It’s been happening for many, many years,” DeSantis added that “in a crisis situation like COVID, the good thing about it is when you’re an elected executive, you have to make all kinds of decisions, you’ve got to steer that ship.”

DeSantis’ attack on him for his COVID policy was strange, considering that DeSantis opened Florida schools and businesses well before other states. He was also a vocal opponent of vaccine mandates.

Trump announced his candidacy for the White House. But, DeSantis is widely believed be contemplating a primary challenge. He won re-election with nearly 20 percent. He stated Tuesday that his November victory was a confirmation of his support for the handling of the pandemic.

“And the good thing is, is that the people are able to render a judgment on that, whether they reelect you or not,” DeSantis said. “And I’m happy to say, you know, in my case, not only did we win re-election, we won with the highest percentage of the vote that any Republican governor candidate has in the history of the state of Florida.”

“We won by the largest raw vote margin, over 1.5 million votes, than any governor candidate has ever had in Florida history. And in fact, we almost doubled the previous record, which I think was like 780,000 vote margin,” DeSantis added. “And so what I would just say is, that verdict has been rendered by the people of the state of Florida.”

DESANTIS REPONDS TO TRUMP ATTACKS “I roll out of bed, I have people attacking me from all angles […] In my case, not only did we win re-election, we won with the highest percentage of the vote than any Republican governor candidate in the history of the state of Florida.” pic.twitter.com/FLEXeVPlRn

— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) January 31, 2023

A Report from The Washington Post highlighted how Trump repeatedly praised DeSantis’ handling of the pandemic while he was still president, saying DeSantis did a “fantastic job,” DeSantis was praised for his refusal to close down, and he was particularly kind.

“We had surges, and they went up and they went down, and now you’re at your lowest numbers,” Trump declared this October 2020. “And you’re open and you didn’t close, and you’re just amazing — right, this guy?”

“So we’re joined today by one of the greatest governors in our country — and I know a lot of good ones, and I can tell you, there’s some really bad ones, too — but this is a great one, Gov. Ron DeSantis.”