Nikki Fried Claims DeSantis-Hitler Comparison “Taken Out of Context”

January 24, 2021 Updated 10:04 A.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FCV) – In an interview on WPLG Studios at Local 10 News, Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried claimed that her comparison of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) to Adolf Hitler was taken out of context.

“If anyone listened to the full interview of that morning, you know, it was more so talking about his tendencies – what this governor is doing is going on a line of fascism and dictatorship.”

In the interview, after the interviewer asked Fried if she was comparing DeSantis to Hitler, Fried said, “In a lot of ways, yes.”

Reporter Glenna Milberg then held Fried’s hand, saying to Fried, ” You really compared the rise of Hitler, not necessarily the dictator himself, although the headlines sort of obscured that.”

A revisiting of Fried’s troublesome remarks shows a clear comparison to Hitler:

“I saw the rise of Hitler. I’ve learned of those stories. I have studied Hitler and how he got to power you know, wanting his own militia and having his own militia,” she said, referencing DeSantis proposal to establish a new state guard accountable to the governor, which is common among states.

Fried also said that DeSantis is doing “exactly what Hitler did to the Jews” by supposedly blaming “certain parts of our society and our culture” for various issues.

“Do I think that we’re going to get to this extent of Hitler’s power? Of course not. But the rise of his power and what he did to scapegoat certain parts and especially the Jewish community in Germany and how he utilized taking going after the media going after, and scapegoating people and blaming people and putting fear and then taking over the military, that’s what this governor is doing.“

The Anti-Defamation League blasted Fried for her comments.

DeSantis’ wife, Casey, also went after Fried for comparing her husband to the dictator.