DeSantis Criticizes Media Double Standard in Disaster Coverage

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused the media of applying a double standard in its coverage of natural disasters, contrasting the treatment of Republican and Democratic leaders during crises. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, DeSantis criticized reporters for not holding California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass accountable for their handling of the state’s devastating wildfires.

DeSantis, who has faced media scrutiny during his own state’s disasters, argued that if Newsom were a Republican, he would be “nailed to the wall” for the wildfires. “Is it appropriate for people in your industry to try to create division and to try to create narratives any time these things happen?” DeSantis asked a reporter. “Now, you’re not as interested in doing that because Newsom is a D.”

The Florida governor referenced his own experiences, including criticism he faced after the Surfside condo collapse in 2021. “I had people from the Washington Post trying to blame me for it immediately without having any facts,” he said. DeSantis also pointed to Bass’s recent trip to Ghana during a high-risk fire period, suggesting that if she were a Republican, the media would have criticized her more harshly.

California’s wildfires have claimed at least 10 lives, scorched over 35,800 acres, and destroyed thousands of structures. Despite the devastation, DeSantis argued that Democratic leaders have not faced the same level of scrutiny as their Republican counterparts. “I’d like to see some balance on how this is done,” he said. “You criticize the president-elect, but you also have to hold these other people accountable, and I have not seen that.”

Bass, who returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday, faced questions about her decision to travel abroad during the crisis. When asked by a reporter if she had anything to say to residents affected by the fires, she remained silent. A 2021 tweet in which Bass criticized Sen. Ted Cruz for leaving Texas during a deadly freeze resurfaced, drawing criticism from residents and political opponents.

DeSantis offered assistance to California as the wildfires raged but emphasized the need for fair media coverage. “We just assume in Florida anytime something happens, it’s gonna be politicized by the media,” he said. “I think your track record of politicizing these things is very, very bad.”