Jen Psaki tears apart Ron DeSantis’ criticisms of Biden’s pandemic testing program: ‘It’s pretty rich’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been critical of the Biden administration’s at-home testing program for COVID-19, attacking it as wasteful. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended that program when she was asked about it during a White House press conference this week, pointing out some major flaws in DeSantis’ pandemic response.

A reporter noted that DeSantis had criticized the Biden testing program on the grounds that not everyone needs to be tested, saying, “That’s not a good strategy. But what is a good strategy is to have those at-home tests available for our vulnerable population.” And she asked Psaki if Biden’s administration had “any plans to limit testing.”

Psaki responded, “We have taken a number of steps to provide tests at a much larger, expansive capacity …. to vulnerable communities across the country. That has been part of the president’s effort to quadruple our testing capacity…. and to work with local health officials to ensure that we’re reaching communities that need help the most.”

Biden’s White House press secretary went on say that DeSantis’ criticism of Biden’s coronavirus policies is “rich” in light of how little he has been doing to encourage Floridians to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

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Psaki argued, “I would say it’s pretty rich coming from Gov. DeSantis given he is somebody who has been…. not exactly advocating for people in his state to get vaccinated, which we know, is the way that people can be protected — a way that lives can be saved. And if he wants to be a constructive part of this process, then perhaps he should encourage what scientists say is the best way to save lives, prevent and reduce hospitalization — and that is getting vaccinated and getting boosted.”