Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is pushing back on a false claim shared by a popular conservative account on X.
On Wednesday, the “Libs of TikTok” account posted about a “normally quiet, peaceful neighborhood in Florida” that “was shaken this week when 3 [illegal immigrants] from Guatemala were arrested for forcing a woman into a car and [sexually assaulting] her.”
However, one line drew a response from DeSantis as it claimed, “Apparently FL also gives illegals drivers licenses!”
This normally quiet, peaceful neighborhood in Florida was shaken this week when 3 illegals from Guatemala were arrested for forcing a woman into a car and s*xually ass*ulting her.
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 13, 2024
Apparently FL also gives illegals drivers licenses!
Biden’s open borders allows v*olent criminals… pic.twitter.com/MzBtUk5BU1
Several community notes on the post pointed out Florida in fact does not issue drivers’ licenses to illegal immigrants, additionally, it does not recognize them from other states.
DeSantis even chose to respond to the post, writing, “[Libs of TikTok] got community noted for lying about FL law, which not only prohibits illegal aliens from getting drivers licenses but also prohibits recognition of licenses issued to illegal aliens from other states.”
“Truth shouldn’t be a casualty of attempts to generate clicks and engagement farm,” he added.
.@libsoftiktok got community noted for lying about FL law, which not only prohibits illegal aliens from getting drivers licenses but also prohibits recognition of licenses issued to illegal aliens from other states.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 13, 2024
Truth shouldn’t be a casualty of attempts to generate clicks… https://t.co/tdJs3x42iH
The spat did not end there as the “Libs of TikTok” account wrote, “The last thing I ever thought I’d be doing on a Wednesday afternoon is defending myself against Ron DeSantis… I made a sarcastic comment about Florida ‘apparently’ allowing illegals to get drivers licenses because a woke State Attorney literally told an illegal to get a license.”
“I clarified TWICE in the subsequent posts that Florida Law doesn’t allow illegals to get licenses and demanded accountability from the State Attorney who was trying to subvert Florida Law. These corrections were made hours before DeSantis attacked me and hours before the Community Note was published,” it continued.
The last thing I ever thought I'd be doing on a Wednesday afternoon is defending myself against Ron DeSantis…
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 13, 2024
I made a sarcastic comment about Florida “apparently” allowing illegals to get drivers licenses because a woke State Attorney literally told an illegal to get a… https://t.co/A3INRVEPjy
Finally, the account wrote, “Now the Governor who I’ve only ever congratulated for his wins and have never attacked, is publicly attacking me calling me a liar and a grifter. Just wow. I understand DeSantis wanting to correct the record and this post could’ve been a correction- championing Florida’s incredible record on illegal immigration. Instead it turned into a personal attack.”
