On tour in Iowa, DeSantis attacks Biden and Trump for their handling of COVID-19

By Jonathan Allen -

DAVENPORT, Iowa.—

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launched a likely line of attack against President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump Friday, criticizing the federal response to COVID-19 during his visit to Iowa, Iowa. first state to vote during the primary election.

"We were right, they were wrong," DeSantis declared during an impromptu address to about 700 people in a spacious room at the Rhythm City Casino Resort.

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In particular, the governor took aim at Anthony Fauci, longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who served as an adviser to both presidents during the COVID crisis and retired at the end of 2022.

"We refused to let our state descend into some sort of Faucian dystopia [by Fauci]," DeSantis said.

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His nearly identical speeches at two events this Friday in Davenport and Des Moines are seen as an unofficial launch of his presidential campaign.

His remarks, his first as a likely candidate in Iowa, also included attacks on progressives on issues such as immigration, gender identity and education.

DeSantis reiterated his view that "Florida is where the word

[which refers to being alert to discrimination and racial prejudice].

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Those who went to hear these kinds of speeches got what they expected, according to a poll by the Des Moines Register newspaper, which found that Iowa Republicans support Trump and are willing to support another Republican candidate in 2024. In three days, Iowans will host Trump, on his first visit since announcing his candidacy in November.

The former president and 2024 frontrunner plans to hold a campaign event in Davenport and unveil his education plan, giving voters in the state a glimpse of the two Republican contenders over the weekend.

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DeSantis followed up his roughly 30-minute speeches with brief onstage question-and-answer sessions with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, taking selfies and signing copies of his new book for voters.

Reynolds, a Republican who has not endorsed any 2024 presidential candidate, plans to share the stage with Trump on Monday.

DeSantis is not expected to formally launch a campaign until June at the earliest, but polls initially show him as Trump's strongest rival nationally and in the state of Iowa.

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Several voters who spoke to NBC News at the DeSantis events said they like Trump but don't close the door on other alternatives, including the Florida governor.

Kerri Baumer, a 42-year-old mother of two from Davenport, described herself as a "huge Trump supporter" but attended the event because she is open to other candidates.

“Part of it is that everyone knows that Trump can do it, but Trump has to learn when to keep his mouth shut,” Baumer said.

"So people really walk away from that, because they're nervous about what he's going to say versus what he does for us."

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Denise Gross-Ploehn, a 53-year-old hairstylist from Davenport, said she is impressed with DeSantis' work as Florida governor.

“I am also a Trump supporter, but I am open,” she said.

"I think there will be a lot of great Republican candidates running for the presidency."

This Friday Trump attacked DeSantis on the Truth Social social network.

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“No other president was as PRO FARMER as I am,” Trump wrote.

“Tell that to Ron DeSanctimonious when he shows up at your door, hat in hand.

Tell him to go home!"

Then pointing out the issues he cares about in contrast to DeSantis, Trump wrote: "Very little support for Ron DeSanctimonious in Iowa. He's against farmers, against Social Security and against Medicare, so why would people show up? apart from the fake stories from the fake news?"

"DeSanctimonious" is one of several nicknames Trump has used for the governor of Florida.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis greets attendees at an event in Davenport, Iowa, this Friday, March 10.

Ron Johnson/AP

At times, DeSantis echoed Trump's policies.

For example, he said that a wall should be built on the US-Mexico border, one of Trump's big issues in the 2016 election and during his presidency, and offered that he would send construction workers to the border from Florida if Biden allowed it.

“I will build the wall myself,” he said in Des Moines.

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DeSantis, who met with Iowa lawmakers between speeches, focused most of his public comments on the issues outlined in his

already #1 New York Times bestselling book

Copies of the book — part memoir, part political affairs — were handed out to attendees at both events.

DeSantis received frequent applause as he attacked Democrats and the media.

“We will never, ever give in to the

mob ,” he said in Davenport.