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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference this Friday, September 16th, where he responded to California Governor Gavin Newsom’s call for an investigation against him following the shipment of illegal immigrants to the exclusive Martha’s Vineyard Island in Massachusetts.
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Newsom asked the Department of Justice to analyze and investigate whether the removal of immigrants by Governors DeSantis and Greg Abbott (Texas) violated federal laws related to kidnapping.
Governor Newsom calls on @TheJusticeDept to investigate interstate transportation of migrants. pic.twitter.com/BngmCsgdY7
— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) September 15, 2022
A day later, in Daytona Beach, Florida, DeSantis had no qualms about stepping into the ring and answering the California governor in front of the media.
“So the Governor of California sent a letter to the Department of Justice saying, ‘You need to prosecute Texas and Florida Governors.’ And all I can say is, I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function,” the Republican joked, mocking his Democratic counterpart.
🔥 @RonDeSantisFL responds to @GavinNewsom's calls for the DOJ to investigate Florida for transporting illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard:
"I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function."
☠️☠️☠️ pic.twitter.com/i4qybPQnMQ
— DeSantis War Room (@DeSantisWarRoom) September 16, 2022
The governor of Florida made headlines in the last two days after he sent a couple of planes with a little more than fifty migrants, mostly Venezuelans, to the wealthy island in Massachusetts, where members of the Democratic elite such as former President Barack Obama have mansions.
The episode caused a great controversy throughout the country and, in addition, exposed several contradictions of the Democrats on immigration issues.
Newsom’s response was swift: he challenged DeSantis to a debate on his Twitter account.
“Hey, DeSantis, clearly you’re struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with people’s lives. Since you have only one overriding need —attention— let’s take this up & debate. I’ll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day,” the California governor tweeted.
Hey @GovRonDeSantis, clearly you're struggling, distracted, and busy playing politics with people’s lives. Since you have only one overriding need — attention –let's take this up & debate. I’ll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray. Name the time before Election Day. @CNN https://t.co/vTJHQxfArW
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 16, 2022
Ron DeSantis’ statements against Newson are the latest episode in a political dispute that has been brewing between the two governors for several months.
Last July, for example, the California governor launched a paid ad where he attacked the Republican by associating him with former President Donald Trump and called on Floridians to join his fight against DeSantis.
Various media outlets, such as the Wall Street Journal, have taken advantage of this conflict between DeSantis and Newsom to compare them politically and even position them as possible candidates for the 2024 presidential election.
Even after Newsom began to criticize and attack the Florida governor, some media outlets such as The Atlantic have described the California governor as “the Ron DeSantis of the left,” seeking to put the two leaders face to face.
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón is a journalist at El American specializing in the areas of American politics and media analysis // Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón es periodista de El American especializado en las áreas de política americana y análisis de medios de comunicación.
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