PolitiFact FL: Pro-Donald Trump PACs’ video misleads about Ron DeSantis’ response to COVID-19

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[WLRN has partnered with PolitiFact to fact-check Florida politicians. The Pulitzer Prize-winning organization seeks to present the true facts, unaffected by agenda or biases.]

Former President Donald Trump described his campaign rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis as a weak pandemic leader and a fan of COVID-19 lockdowns.

“Surprise, Ron is a big lockdown governor on the China virus, sealing off all the beaches and everything else for an extended period of time,” Trump said on March 22, a statement we found misleading.

Now a social media video from a pro-Trump political action committee, MAGA Inc., shows clips of DeSantis speaking in favor of lockdowns, vaccinations and following the US Centers for Disease Control and Preventions guidance.

READ MORE: California And Florida Diverge Pandemic Paths. Who is Better?

The DeSantis clips are real, but the video removes the context. Some of DeSantis’ statements came early in the pandemic, when almost all governors were in charge of lockdowns.

The video ignores that DeSantis was among the early wave of governors to reopen states. It also ignores that Trump has previously praised Florida governors’ pandemic response and that DeSantis has often cited the Trump administration’s guidance in his pandemic decisions.

Here’s a look at the many comments excerpted in the video. We’ve ordered them in the order DeSantis said them and added context.

DeSantis: “The message, I think, for spring breakers is that the party is over in Florida. You can’t gather at any beach in the state. The bars are closed so you have nowhere to go. Gather there.”

Date of statement: March 19, 2020

Context: On March 17, 2020, four days after the Trump administration declared a nationwide emergency due to COVID-19, DeSantis issued an executive order urging residents to “support beach closures at the discretion of locals that authority.” DeSantis cited guidance from Trump and the CDC known as “15 days to slow the spread.”

Full quote: “The message, I think, for spring breakers is the parties in Florida. You can’t get together on any beach in the state,” DeSantis said on Fox and Friends. “A lot of the hot spots that people want to go to, whether it’s Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Clearwater Beach, are completely closed right now.”

He added that the bars were closed.

“Every single beach has to follow CDC guidelines, no more than 10 people, you have to be socially distant, not all beaches will stay open, but some will stay open.”

DeSantis: “Some people say this virus is doing nothing, it’s not doing anything. And I’ve never been in that camp because I said in January that this is a serious public health threat.”

Date of statement: March 24, 2020

Context: DeSantis said in a news briefing that state officials will cooperate with Trump. But he also said a long shutdown would not be “sustainable.”

Full quote: “You have some people saying, Oh, this virus is pretty much useless. Don’t do anything. And I’ve never been in that camp because I said in January that this is a serious threat to public health. Then you have other people say, There’s nothing we can do. We just have to lock down and maybe nine months or whatever. And I think those are both wrong choices. I mean, it’s clear we have to do something about the virus and there’s no way a nine-month shutdown could possibly be sustainable.”

DeSantis: “Avoid crowds, avoid close contact. You have to assume that anyone you come in close contact with could be infected. Obviously, the easiest way to do that is to just stay home as much as possible”

Date of statement: March 24, 2020

Context: DeSantis’ comments targeted the elderly population that public health officials have warned are at greater risk. In a press conference, he said his administration advised people age 65 and older to stay at home for 14 days.

Full quote: “So we want to make sure those people are protected. I think the message has been for us from the beginning that if you’re in that category, avoid crowds, avoid close contact. You have to assume that anyone you might come into contact with could be infected. So, make sure you keep a safe, appropriate distance of 6 feet or more. Obviously, the easiest way to do that is to just stay home as long as possible. t can.”

DeSantis: “I am issuing an executive order today instructing all Floridians to limit movements and personal contact outside the home.”

Announcement Date: April 1, 2020

Context: As of this date, most states have had some form of stay-at-home order. But the ad cut out the part of the sentence where DeSantis said he was allowing some essential services like buying groceries, gas or medicine or taking care of pets.

Full quote: “I am issuing an executive order today directing all Floridians to limit movements and personal contact outside the home to only those necessary to obtain or provide essential services or conduct essential activities,” said said DeSantis in a press conference. “And we have a list of essential services detailed by the US Department of Homeland Security in its most recent guidance.”

DeSantis: “We’re No. 1 in the country for doses per capita.”

Date of statement: Jan. 26, 2021

Context: Outside a Publix supermarket in Vero Beach, DeSantis announced the expansion of the state’s vaccination efforts. Health care workers and seniors have received the vaccine but millions of other Floridians want to get the shot. Demand is greater than supply.

Full quote: “Hundreds of thousands are ahead of the next closest state,” on vaccinations DeSantis said. He also said, “We are No. 1 in the country for doses per capita for the top 10 most populous states.”

DeSantis: “My view is that if you get a vaccine, the vaccines are effective. You’re immune.”

Statement date: April 16, 2021

Context: After federal health officials recommended pausing administration of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, DeSantis criticized the action at a press conference in Lakeland, calling the vaccination’s messaging “terrible.”

DeSantis said officials offered “muddled” messaging telling the public to get vaccinated but to continue social distancing and avoid restaurants.

Full quote: “My view is that if you get a vaccine, vaccines are effective,” DeSantis said. “You’re immune and so, act immune. If you tell people the opposite, then, gee. Why, if it’s not effective for them and it won’t change anything, then what’s the point of going through it?”

DeSantis: “Vaccines protect you. Get vaccinated.”

Statement date: May 3, 2021

Context: DeSantis announced at a news conference that he is suspending local emergency orders.

Full quote: “Vaccines protect you. You get vaccinated. And then you live as if you’re so protected that you don’t have to fret under restrictions forever.”

DeSantis: “If you’re vaccinated, fully vaccinated, the chance of you getting seriously ill or dying from COVID is effectively zero”

Statement date: July 21, 2021

Context: Speaking at St. Petersburg, DeSantis said Florida does not have a mandate for vaccination, but said the vaccine protects older residents.

Full quote: “If you’re vaccinated, fully vaccinated, the chance of you getting seriously ill or dying from COVID is effectively zero,” he said. “If you look at the people who are admitted to hospitals, more than 95% of them are not fully vaccinated or not vaccinated. And, so, these vaccines save lives. They reduce mortality. ”

Trump praised DeSantis’ early response to the pandemic

The MAGA, Inc., video ignores that while Trump was president, he praised how DeSantis responded to the pandemic and encouraged people to comply with lockdowns.

In March 2020, Trump expressed concern about youth gatherings and said, “We don’t want them gathering” at beaches and restaurants. He also said, “Were asking people not to work” because they had to stay away from each other.

Trump said on April 30, 2020, that he had spoken with DeSantis the previous day and that,

“What Florida is doing is incredible.”

Trump has sometimes been inconsistent in his messaging about openings and closings. But in summer 2020, Trump urged states to reopen businesses, churches and schools. Florida was among the first states to reopen.

Trump invited DeSantis on stage at a rally in October, calling him a “great” governor and praising the state for reopening.

Our Origins

MAGA Inc., Video, May 22, 2023 Fox News,Gov. DeSantis to Florida spring breakers: ‘The party’s over’ March 19, 2020 Rev.com, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis coronavirus briefing transcript, March 24, 2020 Rev.com, Ron DeSantis Coronavirus Briefing Transcript, April 1, 2020 AP, Birx travels , family visits highlight pandemic safety risks, Dec. 20, 2022 Rev.com, Transcript of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 Conference, Jan. 4, 2021 Clickorlando,Gov. DeSantis touted Florida vaccine launch as Publix expands program, Jan. 26, 2021 WPTV, video by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Jan. 26, 2021 WFLA, Big mistake: DeSantis criticizes federal response to Johnson & Johnson blood clotting issues, April 16, 2021 WESH, DeSantis video, April 16, 2021 Rev.com, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Press Conference Transcript: Suspending All Local COVID-19 Emergency Orders, May 3, 2021 Fox 13, Gov. DeSantis: Fully vaccinated Floridians’ chance of survival COVID is ‘pretty doggone close to 100%’ July 22, 2021 Politico, White House seizes opportunity to bash DeSantis, Aug. 11, 2021 Gov. Ron DeSantis, Press conference about 3 years to slow spread and press release, March 16 . 2023 White House, Statements by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force at Press Briefing, March 18, 2020 C-SPAN, President Trump with the Coronavirus Task Force Briefing, March 18, 2020 Rev.com, Donald Trump Coronavirus Task Force Update Transcript, March 21, 2020 White House, Remarks by President Trump on Protecting Americas Seniors, April 30, 2020 Fact base, Trump rally in Ocala, Fla., Oct. 16, 2020 Local 10, DeSantis on Fauci: Take that little elf and chuck him in the Potomac Aug. 24, 2022 PolitiFact, Fact-checking DeSantis on COVID-19 natural immunity, Sept. 15, 2021 PolitiFact, Ron DeSantis’ Fact-checking book: What ‘The Courage to Be Free ‘ sheds light on his record, March 2, 2023 Never Back Down PAC, PolitiFact Statement, May 23, 2023 Email interview, Alex Pfeiffer, spokesperson for MAGA Inc., May 23, 2023

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