DeSantis: Donalds should not ‘side’ with Kamala Harris on new African American standards
DES MOINES, Iowa (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis commented Thursday on his office’s spat with Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds over the state’s newly approved African American history standards.
Donalds said that while the new standards approved by Florida are “good, robust, & accurate,” sections that “feature the personal benefits of slavery is wrong & needs to be adjusted.”
Vice President Kamala Harris was among those most outspoken against new Florida standards that would teach “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
“Are you going to side with Kamala Harris and liberal media outlets?” DeSantis quipped when asked whether he believes the “dust up” between the two groups is “helpful.”
“Are you going to side with the state of Florida?” he continued, referencing Donalds. “These guys did a good job on those standards.”
“These are serious scholars,” he said. “So, don’t side with Kamala on that – stand up.”
#BREAKING: DeSantis responds to conflict between his office and @ByronDonalds over African American history standards
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) July 27, 2023
"Are you going to side with Kamala Harris and liberal media outlets? Are you going to side with the state of Florida? […] So, don't side with Kamala on that -… pic.twitter.com/qvuubacRCG
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. slammed the congressman as “supposedly conservative” and part of the federal government trying to “dictate Florida’s education standards.”
“This new curriculum is based on truth,” he said. “We will not back down from teaching our nation’s true history at the behest of a woke @WhiteHouse, nor at the behest of a supposedly conservative congressman.”
Jeremy Redfern, the press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis, also called Donalds a “supposed conservative.”
“Supposed conservatives in the federal government are pushing the same false narrative that originated from the @WhiteHouse,” Redfern said. “Florida isn’t going to hide the truth for political convenience.”
In response to the DeSantis officials’ comments, Donalds noted he “expressed support for the vast majority of the new African American history standards” but only opposed “one sentence that seemed to dignify the skills gained by slaves as a result of their enslavement.”
“Anyone who can’t accurately interpret what I said is disingenuous and is desperately attempting to score political points,” Donalds continued. “Just another reason why l’m proud to have endorsed President Donald J. Trump!”
Donalds endorsed former President Donald Trump for president in April. He’s also recently said he’d accept a vice president position from Trump if offered one.
The congressman previously received a 100% “Liberty Score” from Conservative Review and a 96% conservative score from Heritage Action.
Defending the new standards, DeSantis scathed a reporter who asked if he believes there were “beneficial aspects to slavery” being taught by the new standards.
“Have you read it? Have you read it? You haven’t read – you haven’t read it, so I’m just making that clear,” DeSantis fired at the reporter.
“[The standards] make it very clear about the injustices of slavery in vivid detail […] [Provision about slaves developing skills] was in spite of slavery – not because of. The AP course has made that same point.”
