Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) dismissed one of his fellow governors’ criticisms of him as a “badge of honor.”
Late-night TV host Jon Stewart asked Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) which governor would make him say, “Oh, f***,” if he saw him at an event, to which Beshear answered, “Ron DeSantis.”
The Florida governor visited Kentucky on Wednesday to address state lawmakers about the need for a balanced budget amendment, and was asked afterward about Beshear’s jab.
“I don’t really know much about the governor here; I saw someone had shown me those comments because I was coming here,” DeSantis said. “All I can say is a guy that sends state police to try to block people from worshipping on Easter Sunday, a guy that’s obsessed with gender mutilation of minors. If that’s the person that’s criticizing me, I wear that as a badge of honor.”
DeSantis was referring to Beshear’s executive order from March 2020, which barred public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regarding transgender minors, Beshear vetoed a bill in 2023 that would ensure children in fifth grade and under don’t receive instruction or presentation with “a goal or purpose of students studying or exploring gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.”
Beshear said he vetoed this bill since his faith teaches him “all children are children of God,” and improving access to transgender care marked “an important means of improving health outcomes.” The Kentucky governor also signed an executive order in 2024 that banned conversion therapy on minors in the state.
Beshear condemned President Donald Trump’s decision to uninvite Govs. Wes Moore (D-MD) and Jared Polis (D-CO) from the upcoming governors’ dinner. Beshear said on Thursday he stands with both governors: “If we’re all not invited, I’m not going.”
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Beshear is serving his second term as governor, and is releasing a book titled Go and Do Likewise: How to Heal a Broken Country in September.
The Washington Examiner contacted both governors’ offices for comment.
