It’s no secret that Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, is not one to shy away from criticizing his political counterparts. Recently, he has set his sights on California Governor, Gavin Newsom, and Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, in the aftermath of the devastating wildfires in the L.A. region.
DeSantis made his remarks at Mar-a-Lago amid questions from the press regarding the appropriateness of President-elect Donald Trump’s criticism of California’s Democratic leadership while the state was engulfed in flames. Trump, in his characteristic style, had called for Newsom’s resignation while blaming the state’s water management policies for the fires.
However, DeSantis argues that the media’s reaction to the situation would have been vastly different if Newsom were a Republican, accusing them of creating division and bias narratives.
DeSantis on the Defensive
Ron DeSantis didn’t hold back in his response to the media’s scrutiny of Trump’s criticism of Newsom’s handling of the wildfires. He questioned the media’s role in creating division and pushing narratives, accusing them of bias in their coverage.
“Is it appropriate for people in your industry to try to create division and to try to create narratives any time these things happen? Now you’re not as interested in doing that because Newsom is a D. If Newsom was a Republican, you would have him nailed to the wall for what they’re doing over there,” said DeSantis.
The Florida Governor also recalled the media’s response to the Surfside tower collapse, alleging that they were quick to blame him without having any facts at hand.
Media Bias?
According to DeSantis, the media has a track record of politicizing natural disasters, especially when it involves a Republican Governor. He believes that if Mayor Bass was Republican, the media would have been far more critical of her decision to leave during a disaster.
“I mean, you know the fires are at high risk and you try to go to Africa or wherever she was to go on some type of voyage? You should have been there preparing and doing that, and yet I don’t see a lot of heat being directed in that thing. And so, you know, I just would like to see some balance on how this is done. You criticize the President-elect, but I think you also have to hold these other people accountable, and I have not seen that,” DeSantis stated.
Does DeSantis Have a Point?
Despite his criticisms, DeSantis did offer help to California as the wildfires raged, demonstrating his commitment to public service. However, his comments have highlighted the potential for a political double standard. Whether you agree with DeSantis or not, it’s clear that he’s not afraid to call out perceived bias where he sees it.
While the media’s role in covering such events is crucial for public awareness, it’s also important for them to provide balanced and unbiased reporting. DeSantis argues that this is not the case, and it’s a discussion that is worth having as we move forward.
