ABC News Faces Criticism After DeSantis Report
On Tuesday, the mainstream media once again came under fire for their coverage, with two separate incidents catching the attention of critics.
First, NBC News fact-checked a claim made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during the last GOP presidential debate. DeSantis had stated that he signed an executive order that led to the safe return of over 700 Floridians from Israel, where they were trapped during the recent conflict with Hamas. NBC News deemed the statement only "half true" because DeSantis himself did not fly the planes.
Later in the week, ABC News joined the fray, targeting DeSantis for a statement he made about Utah Senator Mitt Romney during a recent interview. DeSantis had said that he "didn't know" Romney, who is retiring in 2024. ABC News then unearthed a black-and-white photo from DeSantis' Harvard Law School yearbook, showing him holding a sign while campaigning for Romney in 2002. The headline of the ABC News article suggested that DeSantis was being dishonest about not knowing Romney.
Critics, including media columnist Joe Concha, were quick to point out the absurdity of ABC News' claim. By their definition, anyone who has ever campaigned for a candidate "knows" that person, including back when they were still figuring out their political beliefs.
NEW: DeSantis says he ‘doesn’t know’ Romney. Unearthed yearbook photo shows he once campaigned for him w.@OliviaRubinABC @lcbruggeman https://t.co/jA8OM0qZiw
— Will Steakin (@wsteaks) November 14, 2023
DeSantis' campaign responded to the article, mocking Romney's warning in a new biography that DeSantis is "dangerous" and "authoritarian." The campaign pointed out that DeSantis has since come a long way from his college years, enacting conservative policies rather than just talking about them.
This latest incident is just one in a long line of criticisms against the mainstream media, who have faced backlash for their biased and misleading coverage. But for DeSantis, this negative attention from ABC News is just another sign that he is not a part of the establishment, further solidifying his image as a non-traditional, conservative politician.
From signing the executive order that brought back 700 Floridians from Israel to facing off against the establishment and their media allies, DeSantis continues to prove himself as a strong leader for Florida and a potential contender for the White House in 2024.