Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign and Donald Trump clashed after the former president received an endorsement from Black Lives Matter leader Mark Fisher earlier this week.
DeSantis’ criticism of how Trump responded to BLM rioters in 2020 after the death of George Floyd is a new line of attack from the 45-year-old, who trails Trump by nearly 50 points in national polls.
“BLM praises Donald Trump, and Trump celebrates it, it makes a lot of sense. “When BLM was burning cities and attacking police officers in cities across the country, Trump did nothing but sit in the White House tweeting ‘LAW & ORDER!’” DeSantis published in X Wednesday afternoon.
The governor argued that he responded “differently in Florida” and “called in the National Guard.”
“We were not going to let our cities burn. “As president, I will not stand by and watch rioters burn down American cities,” DeSantis concluded.
DeSantis has been cautious in his attacks on Trump, as the former president averages a clear majority in the polls. REUTERS Mark Fisher, senior director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, protests outside the Rumstick Drive home of Richard Gordon, 71, in Barrington, Rhode Island, August 11, 2020. Boston Globe via Getty Images
DeSantis’ campaign too posted a video On Wednesday, Trump is seen expressing solidarity with those who felt “pain” following Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Trump spokesman Steven Cheung responded to DeSantis’ attack in a text message to the Post on Thursday, calling the governor a “desperate eunuch who is too busy debating.” [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom instead of campaigning,” referring to the television discussion between the two scheduled for Thursday night.
Fisher, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, endorsed Trump in the 2024 election on Tuesday, saying, “Trump has done more for the Black community than any president I can think of in my lifetime.”
DeSantis has previously attacked Trump for his reluctance to fire Dr. Anthony Fauci. REUTERS
Trump has accused DeSantis of mishandling his COVID-19 response and has launched several personal attacks, including negative name-calling and accusations of wearing high heels. REUTERS
“It’s the duplicity of the Democrats, the hypocrisy,” Fisher told “Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones on Tuesday. “We are not stupid. Brothers are not stupid. We understand when someone is with us and when they are not, and it is obvious that the Democratic Party is not with us.”
The former commander in chief, 77, applauded Fisher’s endorsement in a post on Truth Social, calling the activist a “great guy” and saying he was “very honored” to get the endorsement.
DeSantis is second to Trump in national polls, with 13.8% compared to the former president’s 61.3%, according to RealClearPolitics.
The Florida governor has recently stepped up his attacks on his White House rival, Nikki Haley, who has gained momentum in the polls to challenge DeSantis for second place in the race.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn