NBC's Kristen Welker presses DeSantis over initial response to neo-Nazi protests [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: The Hill

NBC’s Kristen Welker presses DeSantis over initial response to neo-Nazi protests

BY MIRANDA NAZZARO - 10/29/23 11:27 AM ET

NBC “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker pressed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) over reports of him not condemning neo-Nazi protests, which came to light in a recent op-ed by Randy Fine, the only Jewish Republican in the Florida state legislature.

DeSantis, who has been vocal in his support of Israel’s right to defend itself against militant group Hamas after the group’s deadly Oct. 7 surprise attack, came under fire from Fine, who said the governor was not strongly fighting against antisemitism in the Sunshine State and switched his endorsement to former President Trump.

In his op-ed, Fine wrote, “18 months ago, my Nazi ‘friends’ showed up in Florida. They assaulted a Rabbi. They beat up a Jew who yelled back at one of their protests….They commandeered highway overpasses to illegally hang banners saying ‘Gas the Jews.’ They have tormented Jews at their homes with filth. Until a few weeks ago, Governor DeSantis said almost nothing. And worse, he did almost nothing.”

Asked by Welker for his response to Fine’s accusations, DeSantis, who is also running in the Republican presidential primary, said, ‘Well, he’s just trying to get his 15 minutes of fame. I mean, this guy was singing my praises a couple months ago.”

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Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4282019-nbcs-kristen-welker-presses-desantis-over-initial-response-to-neo-nazi-protests/

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Regarding Randy Fine:
• Florida Jewish Republican tears into DeSantis, endorses Trump (Politico)
• Randy Fine breaks with DeSantis over handling of Jewish concerns, throws support behind Trump (Florida Today)