Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Slams Students For Wearing Masks During His USF Speech

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slammed students during a visit with the University of South Florida for wearing masks during his press conference.

The disgusting lack of leadership was on full display Wednesday morning when the controversial governor approached the students who were standing behind his podium waiting to greet him. 

“I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything, and we’ve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous,” he snarled before beginning his speech announcing a $20 million cybersecurity program through the university.

Several of the apprehensive students removed their masks while others kept them in place. There were multiple students from Middleton High School in attendance as well during the awkward encounter. Once the clip surfaced on social media, many people slammed the governor for treating the students so rudely, with one Twitter user calling him a “petulant child.”

Ron DeSantis just yelled at students for wearing masks. This is not a leader. This is a bully. A petulant child. Shameful.pic.twitter.com/tu9gyY1DPh

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) March 2, 2022

https://twitter.com/SethMacFarlane/status/1499138934860763141

Kudos to the kids who kept their masks on even after Ron DeSantis tried to intimidate them into taking them off.

He wanted to use them as props, and they didn’t all behave the way he wanted them to. Good for them!

— KD 📚🌎🌊🇺🇸 (@kdnerak33) March 2, 2022

Here’s Ron DeSantis scolding kids about wearing masks because he’s terrible. DeSantis should resign over this alone. So weak and pathetic. pic.twitter.com/OkClwQoDhG

— Scott Dworkin (@funder) March 2, 2022

Fuck Ron DeSantis. I would wear five fucking masks and just yell “Gay” behind that homophobic piece of shit while he was talking.

— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) March 2, 2022

The governor’s office press secretary Christina Pushaw backed DeSantis, saying that health officials have sent multiple “mixed messages” regarding masks, and now the governor is ready to deliver the “facts.”