TAMPA -- Governor DeSantis told several high school students they shouldn't be wearing masks, just before his news event in Tampa Wednesday.
The governor was in town to deliver a $20 million grant to promote cybersecurity education in Florida. The money would go through the Florida Center for Cybersecurity to promote cyber security skills.
News Channel 8 captured audio of DeSantis as he was taking the stage. Cameras showed several young adults standing on the riser wearing masks. DeSantis said: "You do not have to wear those masks, I mean please take them off." Some laughter could be heard, after which the governor said "Honestly, it's not doing anything, and we've got to stop with this COVID theater. So, if you want to wear it, fine, but this is ridiculous."
DeSantis also called out the federal government and blue state politicians who have only recently removed COVID restrictions, as well as school districts in some areas outside Florida that continue to require masks for students. He said midterm elections were forcing politicians into changing the rules, but that voters should elect different representatives to make sure they won't get changed back. He claimed those politicians were now trying to pretend that they had never supported such restrictions.
"(Dr. Anthony) Fauci is in the witness protection program now," DeSantis said.
Corrected to show the students were from a local high school.
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