Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sat down with Sean Hannity on the Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast to reflect on the intense international pressure he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a candid exchange, the Governor revealed that the criticism he received for his handling of the virus far outweighed any other political battle in his career.
During the interview, DeSantis described the atmosphere of 2020 and 2021 as a period where he was “bucking the trend” and going head-to-head with the prevailing global narrative.
He specifically pointed to his willingness to challenge Dr. Anthony Fauci, whom he jokingly referred to as “Saint Fauci” to illustrate the reverent way the media and public viewed the doctor at the time.
“If you total all the incoming I’ve ever gotten in my career and compare it to what I got during COVID, I got more during COVID,” DeSantis told Hannity. “This was international, it was global. I was bucking the trend. I was bucking Saint Fauci.”
When Hannity questioned the nickname, DeSantis clarified, “Well, that’s how they viewed him,” adding that Fauci was a “bad actor” who maintained an 83% approval rating during the early months of the crisis.
READ: Florida Gov. DeSantis Opens Up On Future Ambitions, Wife’s Cancer Battle In Raw Interview
The Governor noted that the political stakes were high, with many advisors and observers warning him that his refusal to follow standard lockdown procedures would end his political career. “A lot of people tell me, ‘Governor, you’re nuts to do this. You’re getting killed. You’re not going to get reelected because of this,’” DeSantis recalled.
Despite those warnings, DeSantis moved forward with policies that kept Florida’s businesses and schools open while much of the country remained shuttered. He explained his rationale as a matter of duty rather than political survival, citing the impact on the everyday lives of his constituents.
“People’s livelihoods are at stake. Their businesses are at stake. Kids’ education at stake,” DeSantis said. He concluded by questioning the purpose of his role if he were to succumb to public pressure: “If I can’t stand up to them because I’m worried about all the blowback, then what good am I as a leader?”
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