GOP Florida Governor Ron DeSantis fired back at former President Trump after he claimed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, “did better” in his COVID-19 response despite Cuomo’s infamous nursing home scandal.
DeSantis fired back at Trump on Friday after the former president said Cuomo did a better job handling COVID-19 than the Florida governor. DeSantis called the claim “very bizarre.”
“First of all, Florida had less excess mortality than California or New York,” DeSantis said. “Part of that is because states like California had excess mortality derived from the lockdown policy, which is really, really avoidable mortality.”
TRUMP’S BIZARRE REACTION TO DESANTIS’ ANNOUNCEMENT SPARKS CONFUSION ONLINE
Then-President Donald Trump listens as Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Briefing Room, Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Washington. ( (AP Photo/Alex Brandon))
“So, if you could do it again, would he do the same thing?” DeSantis added. “I sure hope not.”
DeSantis also said Fauci “should’ve been fired” by Trump while he was president and that the former president “responded” to the pandemic by “turning the reins over” to Fauci, “elevating” him.
DeSantis and Trump have exchanged barbs this week following DeSantis’ official entry into the 2024 Republican presidential primary, with the Cuomo matter being just the latest example.