Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump’s campaign went at each other 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 is trailing Trump by nearly 50 points in national polling.
“BLM praising Donald Trump — and Trump celebrating it — makes perfect sense. When BLM was burning down cities and assaulting police officers in cities across this country, Trump did nothing but sit in the White House tweeting ‘LAW & ORDER!,'” DeSantis posted on X Wednesday afternoon.
The governor argued he responded “differently in Florida” and “called up the National Guard.”
“We were not going to let our cities burn. As President, I will not sit idly by and watch rioters torch American cities,” DeSantis concluded.
DeSantis has tread carefully with his attacks on Trump, as the former president has a clear majority in the polls on average. REUTERS
Mark Fisher, senior director of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, protests in front of the home of Richard Gordon, 71, of Rumstick Drive, in Barrington, RI on Aug. 11, 2020. Boston Globe via Getty ImagesDeSantis’ campaign also posted a video Wednesday showing Trump expressing sympathy to those who felt “pain” after Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police.
Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung responded to DeSantis’ attack in a text message to The Post Thursday, labeling the governor a “desperate eunuch who is too busy debating [California Gov.] Gavin Newsom instead of actually campaigning,” a reference to the made-for-TV discussion between the two set for Thursday night.
Fisher, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Rhode Island, endorsed Trump in the 2024 election 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 on 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 nicknames and accusations of wearing high heels. REUTERS“It’s the duplicity of the Democrats, the hypocrisy,” Fisher told “Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones Tuesday. “We’re not stupid. The brothers are not stupid. We understand when someone’s for us and when someone is not, and it’s obvious that the Democratic Party is not for us.”
The 77-year-old former commander-in-chief applauded Fisher’s support in a post on Truth Social, calling the activist a “great guy” and saying he was “very honored” to get the endorsement.
DeSantis is in second place behind Trump in national polls, coming in at 13.8% compared to the former president’s 61.3%, according to RealClearPolitics.
The Florida governor has recently ramped up his attacks on White House rival Nikki Haley, who has gained polling momentum to challenge DeSantis for second place in the race.
