Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) insists that President Joe Biden is the one making COVID-19 vaccine requirements divisive.
During a press conference on Friday, DeSantis said, “Just think of Biden, he says, ‘Don’t make the vaccines divisive.’ Don’t make the vaccines divisive? You are trying to take peoples’ jobs away over this issue. You are trying to plunge people into destitution.”
“You are taking away their livelihoods. Nobody else is doing that. You are the one that’s being divisive about this,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) accuses President Biden of trying to “plunge people into destitution” through vaccine mandates.
— The Recount (@therecount) October 15, 2021
“You are the one that’s being divisive about this,” DeSantis says. pic.twitter.com/H3MFXnV0om
On Thursday, Biden addressed the effort to get Americans vaccinated against the coronavirus. Speaking at the White House, he said, “We have to do more to vaccinate the 66 million unvaccinated people in America. It’s essential.”
He went on to claim that vaccine requirements are “working” and said the Labor Department will implement an emergency rule for companies with at least 100 employers to require employees to get vaccinated.
“Let’s be clear. Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us,” Biden said.
In case you missed it:
President Biden: "Let's be clear. Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us." pic.twitter.com/lXqrERL94j
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 14, 2021
The Florida governor’s comments come after the state fined Leon County $3.57 million for requiring its employees to get vaccinated against the virus.
“It is unacceptable that Leon County violated Florida law, infringed on current and former employees’ medical privacy, and fired loyal public servants because of their personal health decisions,” DeSantis said in a statement.
He added, “We will continue fighting for Floridians’ rights, and the Florida Department of Health will continue to enforce the law. We’re going to stand up for Floridians’ jobs, stand up for Floridians’ livelihoods, and stand up for freedom.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, warned, “Firing hard working employees over vaccine passports has real and lasting consequences. It leads to resentment in the workplace, and loss of employment impacts individual and public health.”
