Democrats blast Gov. DeSantis for going 'missing' as he cares for his cancer-stricken wife

Although Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has come under fire for going “missing” as COVID-19 infection rates skyrocketed in the Sunshine state, his spokesman recently revealed that the governor was with his wife as she underwent breast cancer treatment.  

The Democratic mayor of Orange Country, Jerry Demings, was among the first to attack the governor, saying Florida residents “should be outraged” that DeSantis has not been seen publicly as coronavirus cases spiked over the holiday season.  

“And they should ask the question, ‘Now, where’s our state? Where’s our governor?'” Demings said. “Where is Ron DeSantis now? When was the last time you saw the governor do a press briefing regarding COVID-19?”

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also slammed DeSantis on on Twitter on Friday for being “inexplicably missing.”

“Hasn’t Gov. DeSantis been inexplicably missing for like 2 weeks,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted from Miami Beach on Friday. “If he’s around, I would be happy to say hello. His social media team seems to have been posting old photos for weeks.”

“In the meantime, perhaps I could help with local organizing,” said Ocasio-Cortez, who was pictured without a mask while dining outside in Miami. “Folks are quite receptive here.”

Hasn’t Gov. DeSantis been inexplicably missing for like 2 weeks?

If he’s around, I would be happy to say hello. His social media team seems to have been posting old photos for weeks.

In the meantime, perhaps I could help with local organizing. Folks are quite receptive here :) https://t.co/LmmqT8eLDh

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 31, 2021

MSNBC host Joy Reid also jumped in the ring, tweeting, “A governor, not governing during a crisis; and sunning his belly on vacation instead. @GovRonDeSantis is the Nero of Ted Cruzes.”

A governor, not governing during a crisis; and sunning his belly on vacation instead. @GovRonDeSantis is the Nero of Ted Cruzes. https://t.co/JaVTNdPbBh

— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid 😷 (@JoyAnnReid) December 30, 2021

But DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, was quick to retort, tweeting back at Reid with pictures of the governor’s daily schedule, asking, “Have you ever considered that you’re one of the reasons nobody trusts the media?”

Have you ever considered that you’re one of the reasons nobody trusts the media? pic.twitter.com/nyiqzstZhT

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 (@ChristinaPushaw) December 30, 2021

DeSantis communications staffer Kyle Lamb also responded to critics on Twitter saying, “Just FYI, [DeSantis] is not on vacation. Literally no one from our office has said that he is."

“Anyone pushing that could have easily seen the public schedule and seen that he’s taking calls and meetings this past week,” Lamb said. “Not having public events does not = ‘vacation.'”