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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was interrupted three times on Thursday, January 11, by demonstrators opposed to fossil fuels at a presidential campaign event in Ames. At the BBQ restaurant in Ames on Thursday night, DeSantis was giving a speech to a crowd of several hundred people when the disturbance occurred.
All three demonstrators were promptly hauled out of the event. The GOP presidential nominee then told the gathering that the demonstrator wanted people to “pay more for petrol.”
Addressing the issue, he said,
“He wants you to pay more for gas, more for energy. He wants rolling blackouts in this country.”
He further said that he will ensure that the nation is energy independent. The demonstrator then went on to claim,
"Ron DeSantis is a climate criminal."
Activists disrupt Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ recent Iowa campaign
In an attempt to make one last effort to win the Iowa Caucus on January 15, Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is traveling around the state. It was his fourth event of the day in Ames.
DeSantis was speaking at the event when a climate protester charged at him. He was then escorted out by security. In the video that went viral online, he was shown being hustled off stage and shoved to the ground.
The GOP presidential candidate stated in the same event that he wants to increase fossil fuel exploration. During his speech, he even criticized the initial heckler.
Furthermore, addressing the demonstrator who made it to the stage, DeSantis added,
“If you're gonna do that, like he was stumbling around to get his flag out. Like he telegraphed that a mile away.”
The three protestors then yelled at the GOP, accusing him of receiving funding from the fossil fuel sector. As shown in a video that was uploaded to X, a man can be seen yelling at Ron DeSantis and calling him a climate criminal.
Then, a second protestor hurried to the platform with a sign that read,
“DESANTIS: CLIMATE CRIMINAL.”
He then harshly criticized the protesters, saying they embodied everything that is wrong with American colleges and universities. Although it's unclear whether the demonstrators were students.
Referring to the same, the Florida Governor then said,
“This is (what’s) wrong with the college system right there.”
He also reminded the audience that he is the target of attacks from Democrats and the media.
On the other hand, the moment the first protestor entered the stage, at least two security personnel seized him, hauled him off the stage, and pinned him to the ground.
After finishing his speech, DeSantis answered a few questions regarding his positions on policy. He told the reporters,
“We take questions from folks all the time. Yeah, I’m not going to let these numbnuts rush the stage or do anything like that, but I mean people that ask, you know, normal, respectful questions, we’re happy to do.”
At the Iowa State Fair in August, Ron DeSantis also ran into demonstrators on all sides of the political spectrum. As per the AP News, liberal demonstrators interrupted Gov. Kim Reynolds during a one-on-one conversation by blowing whistles, isolating their conversation until they were removed. When DeSantis was in the area, fans of former U.S. President Donald Trump tried to disrupt his actions.
