Florida Governor Ron DeSantis didn’t hold back Thursday night when he slammed the media for their blatant double standard in covering disasters based on political affiliation. After wrapping up a dinner with President-elect Trump and other Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago, DeSantis confronted a reporter who questioned whether Trump’s criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom was appropriate as deadly wildfires ravage the state.
DeSantis was quick to flip the script. “Is it appropriate for people in your industry to try to create division and to try to create narratives any time these things happen?” he asked. “Now, you’re not as interested in doing that because Newsom is a D. If Newsom was a Republican, you guys would have him nailed to the wall for what they’re doing over there.”
And he’s right. When disasters strike red states, Republican governors are relentlessly blamed for everything, even factors beyond their control. Yet when Democratic leaders drop the ball, the media turns a blind eye. DeSantis referenced the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse in Florida, pointing out how he was criticized long before any facts were established. “I think your track record of politicizing these things is very, very bad,” he added.
DeSantis didn’t stop with Newsom. He called out Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for her tone-deaf trip to Ghana while fires engulfed her city. “You should have been there preparing and doing that, and yet I don’t see a lot of heat being directed [toward her],” he said. Imagine if a Republican mayor had skipped town during a crisis—it would dominate the headlines for weeks.
Bass’s hypocrisy is even more glaring when you consider her 2021 tweet slamming Senator Ted Cruz for leaving Texas during a deadly freeze. Yet now, as Los Angeles burns and at least 10 people have lost their lives, Bass couldn’t even offer a comment to reporters upon returning. Sky News reporter David Blevins asked if she had anything to say to her constituents, but Bass simply stared at the ground and walked away. No apology, no explanation.
Meanwhile, Newsom and Bass are under fire for their past decisions on fire prevention, including Bass’s move to slash the LAFD budget by $17 million. But don’t expect the mainstream media to hold them accountable. DeSantis is right—there’s a glaring double standard, and it’s long past time to call it out.
As fires continue to destroy over 35,800 acres and more than 10,000 structures, Californians deserve answers, not media spin. DeSantis demanded fair coverage, and he’s spot on. If the media can scrutinize Republicans, they should apply the same pressure to Democrats when lives and livelihoods are at stake.
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