Gavin Newsom says he would have killed as many Californians

Gavin Newsom says he would have killed as many Californians as “TEN on 9/11” if he had applied Florida’s COVID guidelines – while DeSantis says Democrats’ lockdowns have “ruined livelihoods” while keeping kids in school went

Latest News / By /
  • California Gov. Gavin Newsom addressed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ COVID-19 record, saying he was responsible for “tens of thousands” of deaths
  • “If I had your policies — the equivalent of ten 9/11 attacks,” Newsom said during Thursday night’s debate against DeSantis, moderated by Fox’s Sean Hannity
  • DeSantis went after Newsom for killing businesses and the “generational impact” of keeping children out of school

By Nikki Schwab, senior US political reporter

Published: 03:14, December 1, 2023 | Updated: 04:15, December 1, 2023

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday night that if he had followed the same guidelines as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, “ten people post-9/11” would have died of COVID-19 in California.

The two took part in a red- versus blue-state debate in Georgia moderated by Fox News’ Sean Hannity, with COVID-19 playing a supporting role.

Earlier in the debate, DeSantis criticized Newsom for going to the French Laundry restaurant while other Californians were stuck at home, while Newsom countered by saying that DeSantis followed Dr. Anthony Fauci followed until the Republican Party changed its mind.

Newsom noted that DeSantis closed beaches, bars and restaurants, promoted vaccines and wore a mask.

“He did all of this until he decided to fall prey to the fringe of his party,” Newsom said. “And as a result of that, Ron, tens of thousands of people lost their lives. “The equivalent – if I had your guidelines – the equivalent of ten 9/11 attacks.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (pictured) said Thursday night that if he had followed the same guidelines as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis,

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (pictured) said Thursday night that if he had followed the same guidelines as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, “ten people would have died of COVID-19 post-9/11” in California

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) hit back, shaming Newsom for his “ruin.”[ing] Livelihood. We reopened the state very quickly. We saved hundreds of thousands of jobs. We have saved thousands of companies

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left) hit back, shaming Newsom for his “ruin.”[ing] Livelihood. We reopened the state very quickly. We saved hundreds of thousands of jobs. We have saved thousands of companies

A Los Angeles Times report ahead of the debate found that significantly more Floridians died per capita during the pandemic than Californians.

Of the four most populous states, California lost 2,560 people per million residents, while Florida lost 4,044 people per million, according to the Times analysis of John Hopkins University data.

However, DeSantis argued that death rates in the two states are “basically the same.”

“Why is that important?” he pondered. “Gavin Newsom has done great harm to the people of California.” He has ruined livelihoods. We reopened the state very quickly. We saved hundreds of thousands of jobs. We have saved thousands of companies. We had our children in school. “He had the kids excluded from school because of the teachers’ unions.”

DeSantis said keeping children out of school was having a “generational effect” and accused California of having one of the lowest literacy rates in the country.

“So you should apologize for not taking your children to school.” Why didn’t you take children to school like we did in the summer of 2020? DeSantis asked.

Newsom fired back, saying, “The only person who should be apologizing is Ron DeSantis.”

During spring break in March 2021, just as the first COVID-19 vaccines were being rolled out, crowds occupied Miami Beach's Ocean Drive. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis began reopening the state in May 2020 without urging residents to wear masks

During spring break in March 2021, just as the first COVID-19 vaccines were being rolled out, crowds occupied Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis began reopening the state in May 2020 without urging residents to wear masks

“For the tens of thousands of lives that were needlessly lost because he sidelined his party,” the California governor said.

During the pandemic, which began during former President Donald Trump’s administration, the Republican leader initially supported social distancing measures, including the temporary closure of businesses and schools, to stop the spread of the contagious disease.

But as the months went by, Trump began pushing Republican leaders to open their states, with DeSantis starting the process in May 2020, two months after the pandemic began, and the president hailing Florida as an example.