Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attacked the media on Friday for trying to create “negative narratives” about President-elect Donald Trump and other conservative leaders over their responses to the Los Angeles wildfires.
In an interview on Fox & Friends, DeSantis criticized the media for targeting Trump over his response to the fires and claimed he was protecting… Democratic lawmakers In Los Angeles and California during the disaster.
“I'm fine to say: Don't politicize it at all.” “But I think the media — it's like the pot calling the kettle black when they attack Donald Trump, when they're always the ones who are leading these cases,” DeSantis told host Lawrence Jones.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the media for politicizing the Los Angeles wildfires against President-elect Donald Trump. (Reuters/Cheney Orr)
DeSantis was asked about it Viral confrontation With a reporter at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence on Thursday. In that exchange, the governor attacked the press generally for accusing Trump of politicizing the wildfires while saying nothing about the role of Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., and Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass in the crisis.
While speaking on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Trump accused Newsom Not doing a “good job” To prevent fires in the country. The president-elect added in a post on Truth Social: “Fire has been spreading rapidly for 3 days – no containment. No one has seen such failure numbers before! Gross incompetence by Gavin Newcomb, Karen Bass… and FEMA Biden has no money – all that was wasted in the Green New LA scam is a complete wipeout!!!”
At the Mar-a-Lago press conference, a reporter asked DeSantis if Trump's shots at California leaders were appropriate. DeSantis responded, “Is it appropriate for people in your industry to try to create division and try to create narratives anytime these things happen?”
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ALTADENA, CA – JANUARY 08: A firefighter works on the Eaton Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
“Now, you're not interested in doing that because Newsom has a D. If Newsom was a Republican, you guys would try… You would nail him to the wall for what they're doing over there.” He added.
The governor told Jones the rationale behind his reprimanding of the reporter the day before, citing his own experience with the press questioning him about natural disasters in Florida.
“You know, they were trying to pin this on Donald Trump and they were coming after them,” he said Donald Trump's statements. And I'm just thinking to myself, I've seen how these people react in the press when these things happen in the state of Florida. “All they're trying to do is find things they can create negative narratives about.”
“I remember when we had it Hurricane Ian – Huge Category 5 storm – hits southwest Florida. All they were looking for was to do negative things. In fact, the state was prepared. “We got an overwhelming response,” he continued.
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He also told Governor Jones about how Florida is supporting Californians suffering from the fires, saying: “Well, we immediately offered to help. And so, the Florida Division of Emergency Management is in contact with the California Emergency Management Agency. And since there are requests for that, come down the pike.” “We will fulfill those requests.”
