OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.
In 2021, former President Donald Trump’s administration urged Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to reintroduce masking and social distancing measures in the state, a move that came months after DeSantis had fully reopened Florida.
The White House Coronavirus Task Force conveyed their message through a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner, emphasizing the need for “aggressive mitigation.”
The task force recommended the “uniform implementation” of 2-3-ply well-fitting masks and “strict physical distancing” as COVID-19 cases began to surge again.
Here's the letter Trump's White House Coronavirus Task Force sent to Florida on January 10, 2021. Just a few days before Trump left office, his task force was STILL urging @RonDeSantis to lockdown Florida with "strict physical distancing" and force everyone to wear masks. pic.twitter.com/AtbDrQN2Ml
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) September 7, 2023
This development reignited the debate over which Republican leader had handled the initial virus response more effectively.
It’s essential to note that Governor DeSantis had already lifted all COVID-19 restrictions on businesses and restaurants in Florida and had banned fines for not wearing masks in September 2020, several months before receiving the letter.
In a radio interview with Hugh Hewitt, former President Trump criticized DeSantis’s COVID-19 approach, stating, “He shut down Florida. It was tight as a drum.”
“He had vax lines. He was vaxxing everything. Now, he talks about the vaccinations this and that.”
However, the letter sent to Florida from Trump’s task force also emphasized the importance of not delaying the rapid immunization of those over 65 and vulnerable to severe disease.
It advocated for “active and aggressive immunization” and urged the state to work on “maintaining public confidence and maximizing vaccine acceptance” to address vaccine hesitancy.
During his interview, Trump further commented on DeSantis’s actions, stating, “[DeSantis] said he wouldn’t let anybody come in. He shut down his beaches. He shut down the entire state.”
Trump also mentioned that some other Republican governors, like Henry McMaster of South Carolina and Kristi Noem of South Dakota, did not implement such strict measures.
However, the Trump administration’s report to DeSantis, dated January 2021, advised Florida to increase both statewide and local public mitigation efforts. This included a call for increased communication regarding the importance of personal mitigation, such as masking, physical distancing, and avoiding family gatherings.
Despite pressure from Trump’s White House and its medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Governor DeSantis did not reimplement COVID-19 measures and resisted mask mandates in schools later in the year.
As the pandemic subsided, Governor DeSantis received praise from the Right for his COVID-19 response, emphasizing individual freedoms and opposing mandates.
His approach proved successful as he secured a landslide reelection victory in the midterm elections, with Republican candidates across the state winning their own electoral races.