Ron DeSantis Fires Back at Media After Wildfire Blame Game Escalates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) blasted the media Thursday for its double standards in how they report on the handling of disasters by leaders from different political parties. His remarks came after he confronted a reporter who suggested it was inappropriate for President-elect Donald Trump to criticize California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) while wildfires ravaged the state.
The exchange began when the reporter asked whether Trump’s criticism of Newsom was justified as California struggled to contain deadly wildfires. In response, DeSantis stepped in, pointing out the disparity in media treatment based on the party affiliation of the leader in question.
“Is it appropriate for people in your industry to try to create division and to try to create narratives any time these things happen?” DeSantis asked, per Fox News.
“Now, you’re not as interested in doing that because Newsom is a D. If Newsom was a Republican, you guys would go try… you would have him nailed to the wall for what they’re doing over there.”
The Florida governor emphasized his frustration with the media’s tendency to politicize disasters, especially when they target Republican leaders. He recalled his own experience during the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021, where he had been unfairly criticized before all the facts were known.
“I think your track record of politicizing these things is very, very bad,” DeSantis added.
The conversation then shifted to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D), who had traveled to Ghana while fires raged in California. DeSantis suggested that if Bass were a Republican, her absence during such a critical time would have been met with much more severe criticism.
“You should have been there preparing and doing that, and yet I don’t see a lot of heat being directed [toward her],” he said.
He stressed the need for a balanced approach, calling out the media for holding conservative leaders to a higher standard while letting Democratic officials off the hook.
The exchange began when the reporter asked whether Trump’s criticism of Newsom was justified as California struggled to contain deadly wildfires. In response, DeSantis stepped in, pointing out the disparity in media treatment based on the party affiliation of the leader in question.
“Is it appropriate for people in your industry to try to create division and to try to create narratives any time these things happen?” DeSantis asked, per Fox News.
“Now, you’re not as interested in doing that because Newsom is a D. If Newsom was a Republican, you guys would go try… you would have him nailed to the wall for what they’re doing over there.”
The Florida governor emphasized his frustration with the media’s tendency to politicize disasters, especially when they target Republican leaders. He recalled his own experience during the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021, where he had been unfairly criticized before all the facts were known.
“I think your track record of politicizing these things is very, very bad,” DeSantis added.
The conversation then shifted to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D), who had traveled to Ghana while fires raged in California. DeSantis suggested that if Bass were a Republican, her absence during such a critical time would have been met with much more severe criticism.
“You should have been there preparing and doing that, and yet I don’t see a lot of heat being directed [toward her],” he said.
He stressed the need for a balanced approach, calling out the media for holding conservative leaders to a higher standard while letting Democratic officials off the hook.
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