Florida's embattled Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, has been widely criticized for his response to the virus, which saw stratospheric spikes in the state after DeSantis began lifting stay at home measures in May.
Despite over 500 thousand confirmed cases so far, DeSantis is determined to begin reopening Florida's schools.
With Florida Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, DeSantis issued an executive order in July requiring Florida's schools to offer in-person learning five days a week once the term reopens. The Florida Education Association (FEA) announced a lawsuit against the measure, which DeSantis's administration is hoping gets dismissed.
In a recent address defending the effort to reopen Florida's schools, DeSantis made a questionable comparison.
Watch below.
Opening schools is like killing bin Laden, Ron DeSantis says. pic.twitter.com/lDjAj4iTbW
— Alexander Nazaryan (@alexnazaryan) August 13, 2020
Asserting that the effort to reopen schools was "akin to a Navy SEAL operation," DeSantis said:
"Just as the SEALs surmounted obstacles to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, so too will the Martin County school system find a way to provide parents with the meaningful choice of in-person instruction or continued distance learning."
Bin Laden, the leader of Al-Qaeda and the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, was killed by Navy SEALs during the Obama era nearly a decade after the attacks.
People were stunned to hear DeSantis compare the mission to his effort at reopening schools against the advice of experts and evidence.
When a country's leaders and lawmakers are this stupid and this crassly unfeeling no wonder we have a failed reality tv host in the Oval Office. There is little hope.#DeSantisResignNow @GovRonDeSantis resign
— Jamie Schler (@lifesafeast) August 13, 2020
Wait, what? Recall this fool.
— Truth Seeker (@JonesSeeker) August 13, 2020
I'm starting to wonder whether Ron DeSantis has ever attended school.
— Vote Blue No Matter Who (@Invokethe25thh) August 13, 2020
Yes. The exact same. In both situations #DeathSantis was sitting on his holier than thou keester in the safety of his home while other people risked their lives.
— Shawna Vercher (@shawnavercher) August 13, 2020
Tension in the room, as the officials watch...
Will the kids get educated, or will they get killed?
C'mon kids... you got this.
YES! They've done it! They got educated!
Now get the hell out of there! Go! Go! Go! pic.twitter.com/OYCVWesI9w
— David Anthony (@DaveDRooster) August 13, 2020
The aim isn't to kill the school children, Ron.
— Joyous Panther (@JoyousPanther) August 13, 2020
The governor's handling of the virus has led some to deem him "Deathsantis."
Florida is out of control. @GovRonDeSantis You are inept.#DeathSantis pic.twitter.com/qxMxKAWY70
— Anne (@glenrockcity) August 12, 2020
I heard Governor DeSantis was very upset about our DeathSantis truck parked outside the Governor's Mansion and all over capital today. Don't retweet this. It would only make him furious #DeathSantis pic.twitter.com/owUM0JTp2F
— Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) August 13, 2020
I find myself increasingly at a loss of words with Trump and his supporters. There is no bottom. And this guy well earned the # DeathSantis nickname. https://t.co/c8GpQFa87g
— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy_Siskind) August 13, 2020
@mikejstarks/Bluesky
@kidringo/Bluesky
@westieworld/Bluesky
@mztee8107/YouTube
@KarenPost-n7/YouTube
@h17636/YouTube
@drandrealove/Bluesky
@thebulwark/Bluesky