Liberals Outraged After Frustrated Ron DeSantis Begs Students to Take Off Their Masks Prior to a Press Conference At USF

A frustrated Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis begged students to take off their masks prior to a press conference at the University of South Florida today.

The clip of DeSantis making the request has gone viral and has liberals in an uproar, with some claiming that the students might be minors or “high school students,” although that would seem unlikely since it took place at a university.

In the viral clip, DeSantis begins by walking up to the masked students who are gathered behind the podium and telling them, “You do not have to wear those masks.”

“I mean, please take them off,” DeSantis begged as some of his staff laughed in an attempt to lighten the mood of the situation.

DeSantis continued, “Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we gotta stop with this COVID theatre.”

“So, if you want to wear it, fine,” DeSantis said after no one had made a move to remove their mask yet, before adding, “But this is, this is ridiculous.”

At that point, DeSantis turned to the podium and breathed heavily in frustration as 3 of the 5 students took their masks off.

The highest-ranking state Democrat and Gov. candidate Nikki Fried declared in a tweet, “You can judge someone’s character by how they treat waiters. And high school students. Shame on @GovRonDeSantis.”

You can judge someone’s character by how they treat waiters. And high school students.

Shame on @GovRonDeSantis.

— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) March 2, 2022

U.S. House Rep Dean Phillips (D-MN) also lectured DeSantis in a quote tweet of a clip and said, “I’m not wearing a mask (except where required or when asked) but would never scold or shame people who do.”

“Freedom goes both ways, Mr. DeSantis,” Phillips added.

I’m not wearing a mask (except where required or when asked) but would never scold or shame people who do. Freedom goes both ways, Mr. DeSantis. https://t.co/r5BPGT2DAS

— Rep. Dean Phillips 🇺🇸 (@RepDeanPhillips) March 2, 2022