Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis: The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by TikTok – The first day goes to Dems as the GOP smokes Trump attorneys Florida Democrats wrapped in division, debt before 2022, Florida data scientist launches raid lawsuit armed at home (R) attacked the media for what he said was a double standard with the way the big marches were covered by social justice as opposed to the celebrations in Tampa after the Buccaneers ’Super Bowl victory.
“The media is worried about this, obviously,” DeSantis said Wednesday about scenes of mass celebrations in Tampa showing hundreds of maskless fans as they crowded the streets and bars on Sunday night.
“You don’t care so much if it’s a ‘peaceful protest’ … and then it’s okay,” DeSantis continued. “You don’t care so much if they’re holding an election in Biden. You only care if they’re people you don’t like. I’m a Bucs fan. I’m damn proud of what they did Sunday night.”
Local health officials and the mayor of Tampa said she was very worried after watching the Sunday night celebrations.
“It’s a little frustrating because we’ve worked so hard,” Mayor Jane Castor (D) said the next day. “Right now when dealing with COVID-19, there’s a level of frustration when you see it.”
DeSantis was also at the center of a controversy this week stemming from a photo taken of him at Sunday night’s party showing him sitting in an interior executive suite without a mask, sitting less than six feet from the person he had next to him.
DeSantis first addressed the controversy over photography earlier in the week.
“Someone said,‘ Hey, you were in the Super Bowl without a mask, ’” he said Monday. “But how the hell can I drink a beer with a mask on? Come on. I had to see how the Bucs won.”
DeSantis regularly attacks members of the media to cover the coronavirus pandemic in the state. It has also downplayed the effectiveness of mask use and resisted closure measures statewide.
Regarding a new variant of coronavirus found in several states across the country, including Florida, DeSantis said he is confident the vaccines will work against the mutated strain.
“We have not seen any data or evidence to suggest that these vaccines are not effective,” he said. “So if we vaccinate the elderly, we’ll be fine.”