Des Moines, Iowa – During the final GOP debate before the Iowa caucus, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for her comments on the murder of George Floyd, a Black man killed by a white police officer in May 2020. DeSantis accused Haley of “virtue-signaling” to the left and accepting their narrative in her response to Floyd’s murder.
Haley had previously posted on social media that Floyd’s murder was “personal and painful for every American” and drew attention to the global protests sparked by his death. DeSantis, however, referred to the protests as “the worst rioting in the modern history of this country” and criticized Haley’s comments as an attempt to impress people who will never support conservative views.
The debate also brought attention to both Haley and DeSantis’ stance against the Black Lives Matter movement, with Haley pushing back against DeSantis and calling out his own social media comments about Floyd’s death. She highlighted her experience dealing with racist shootings, including a white gunman killing 10 Black parishioners at a Charleston church in 2015, and emphasized the importance of unity and peaceful vigils in response to such tragedies.
Haley also defended her decision to remove the confederate flag from the South Carolina state capitol after the Charleston church shooting, stating that the flag went from being a symbol of heritage and history to a “deeply offensive symbol of a brutally oppressive past” for many. The debate highlighted the contrasting positions of the two prominent Republican figures when it comes to racial issues and responses to tragic events.
The exchange between DeSantis and Haley sheds light on the ongoing debate within the Republican Party regarding race, protests, and the appropriate response to incidents of racial injustice. The differing approaches of the two politicians also bring attention to the complex and sensitive nature of addressing racial issues in a political context. Overall, the discussion during the debate reflects the ongoing tensions and divisions within the GOP on these important issues.