MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives for a press conference at the Miami Dade College’s North Campus on January 26, 2022 in Miami, Florida. The Governor discussed during the press conference the recent decision made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to revoke emergency use authorization for Regeneron and Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody treatments. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)On Wednesday, Florida governor Ron DeSantis visited the University of South Florida to announce funding for cybersecurity education. Before he stepped up to the podium, Gov. DeSantis had something to say to a few students behind him.
Gov. DeSantis clearly wasn’t happy that a few students were wearing masks. As a result, he scolded them and said they should take the masks off.
“You do not have to wear those masks,” Gov. DeSantis said. “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.”
Evan Donovan of WFLA NEWS shared a video of this exchange on social media.
Here’s the video of Gov. DeSantis yelling at USF students:
NEW: @GovRonDeSantis annoyed with USF students—
"You do not have to wear those masks. Please take them off. Honestly, it's not doing anything. We've gotta stop with this Covid theater. So if you wanna wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous."https://t.co/7j1Pb2hV53 @WFLA pic.twitter.com/ZIOyTHLOh3
— Evan Donovan (@EvanDonovan) March 2, 2022
The governor’s office sent a statement to 8 On Your Side about this message to USF students.
“As the governor said, ‘you can wear them if you want’ but there’s ‘no evidence’ masks make any difference,” press secretary Christina Pushaw said. “That has been clear for a long time, and the data informed our state’s official guidance. Following Florida, the CDC has even stopped recommending mask wearing for most Americans. After two years of mixed messages from health authorities and the media, the governor wants to make sure everyone is aware of the facts and data now, so they can feel free and comfortable without a mask.”
