Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Fires Back At Biden After Criticism: ‘Why Don’t You Do Your Job?’

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) for putting his state at high risk amid COVID-19 spikes by “getting in the way” of experts who are trying to encourage people to do “the right thing.”

The CDC has reported that there have been more than 50,000 new infections in the state and at least 100 deaths. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also reported that there are more than 11,500 new hospitalizations as of Tuesday.

Biden has said that DeSantis’ actions blocking vaccine passports and mask mandates have exacerbated Florida’s COVID-19 situation. The state now leads the nation in new infections. DeSantis has also tried to prevent cities and school districts from establishing mask mandates or other restrictions.

During a press briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that DeSantis’ maneuvering on the pandemic is mainly based on his political agenda – he is widely expected to be a 2024 presidential candidate.

Christina Pushaw, a spokesperson for DeSantis, fired back at Psaki for undermining what the Florida governor has done to fight the pandemic. Pushaw noted that DeSantis had actually promoted vaccinations earlier this year as well as the wearing of masks in schools.

DeSantis later accused the president of not doing his job at the southern border. The governor said that the media is fear-mongering to limit people’s freedom.

At a press conference in Panama City on Wednesday, he posed a question to the Biden: “Why don’t you do your job? Why don’t you get this border secured? And until you do that, I don’t want to hear a blip about COVID from you.”