Fact-Checking DeSantis’s Opening Bid for the Presidency
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his presidential bid Wednesday night in a livestream on Twitter that was delayed by technical glitches and occasionally filled with misleading claims.
Here’s a reality check on some of their claims.
what was said
“Biden also politicized the military and caused recruitment cuts.”
This is a lack of evidence. Military leaders have warned recently that several branches of the armed forces are struggling to meet recruiting goals, but the reasons they cited have little to do with President Biden. That is, many young Americans simply fail to qualify.
The Pentagon’s 2020 study found that only 23 percent of 17- to 24-year-olds could meet service standards, with many failing army entrance exams or fitness and mental tests. That rate was down 6 percent from the previous study in 2017.
Military leaders discussed recruitment issues. A congressional hearing in April, Noting that the problem persists.
“The difficult recruitment landscape we are facing has not happened in a year, and it will take us more than a year to turn it around,” said Army Secretary Christine Wermuth.
Ms. Wermuth also noted that a Pentagon survey of 2,400 16- to 28-year-olds asked about barriers to enlistment. Respondents cited fear of injury and death as the top concerns, while cultural and political issues — “awareness in the military or the mandate of the Covid vaccine, for example — were relatively low on the list of barriers to service.” They said.
what was said
In Florida, our crime rate is at a 50-year low. You look at the top 25 cities for crime in America, Florida is not in the top 25.
This is largely true. The state’s crime rate fell to a 50-year low in 2021, but Mr. DeSantis left a big caveat: Many law enforcement agencies in the state have changed reporting methods and the data is tentative. and in many cases incomplete, The Tampa Bay Times reported..
Only 59 percent of Florida agencies used data for the state’s overall crime rate in 2021, covering 57.5 percent of the population. About 40 percent of law enforcement agencies fail. Reporting crime data for 2021 due to new procedures.
No city in Florida ranks near the top for violent crime rates. Private companies And News Outlets. But it’s worth noting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and criminal justice experts have long advised against comparing crime rates across cities based on population size and demographic changes.
what was said
“Probably no one made Disney more money than me because they were open during Covid. And they were closed in California and it went on for months where, literally, I visited all the theme parks in Florida in 2020. were opened
This is an exaggeration. Disney World in Florida closed on March 15, 2020. Along with every other Disney theme park around the world. This Reopened in July, After being closed for four months. Disney resorts in Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Tokyo also reopened in 2020 after being closed for months. Disneyland in California Re-opened on 30 April 2021.after a year-long closure, the longest among Disney resorts, once the state allowed the theme parks to welcome back visitors.
Mr. DeSantis is also downplaying his actions during the coronavirus pandemic. They Issued an executive order on April 1, 2020., instructing all Florida residents to “limit your movement and personal interactions outside of your home to essentials only.” While the order did not outright close theme parks, it limited openings to essential services and activities, and banned gatherings of more than 10 people. The order expired on May 1.
what was said
“The whole book ban thing is a sham. Not a single book has been banned in the state of Florida. You can buy or use any book you want.
This is misleading. No book has been banned statewide, but Mr. DeSantis is easing up to the point that individual school districts and libraries in some parts of the state have removed the books. In fact, Florida is second only to Texas as the state with the most bans, at 357. According to PEN Americaa nonprofit that supports free speech.
Legislation signed by Mr. DeSantis restricts discussion of sexual orientation, gender identity and race. Led teachers and administration to remove the books.
Includes books removed from shelves in Florida.EA Picture book about two male penguins raising a girl.By Toni Morrisonblue eye” and Margaret Atwoods “The Handmaid’s Tale.”