Twitter condemns Ron DeSantis after he snaps at students for wearing 'ridiculous' masks

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis berated a group of college kids during a visit to the University of South Florida on Wednesday because they were wearing masks.

DeSantis – a right-wing extremist and potential 2024 presidential candidate – was taking part in a press conference about increased funding for cybersecurity education. But before beginning his address, the governor stormed past his podium and waved his finger in a student's face.

“You do not have to wear those masks,” DeSantis snarled. “I mean, please take them off. Honestly, it’s not doing anything and we’ve gotta stop with this COVID theater. So if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous.”

The governor then scoffed and shook his head in disgust as if he had been personally discommoded. As of Monday, more than 70,000 Floridians had lost their lives to COVID-19. Nationally, the death toll has topped 951,000.

Tampa Bay's WFLA News Channel 8 noted:

The governor’s opposition to masks is no secret. He made a series of moves last year to block mask mandates, even signing an executive order withholding state funds from schools that impose them. In February, he endorsed a House proposal to strip $200 million in funding from 12 school districts that defied his order banning mask mandates. Last month, he said parents should be given the power to sue school districts if they have a child who 'was illegally forced-masked this year in Florida.'

Watch the encounter below:

Twitter blasted DeSantis for his inappropriate and pointless grandstanding.