Outrage Erupts Over DeSantis' Controversial Remark on Federal Employees

In a recent speech during his presidential campaign, Florida governor and Republican 2024 hopeful Ron DeSantis sparked outrage with a shocking statement, saying that if elected to the White House, he would "start slitting throats" within the federal bureaucracy on his first day in power. The remark has drawn strong condemnation from various quarters, including union leaders and political commentators.

Tony Reardon, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, denounced DeSantis' comment, calling it "repulsive and unworthy of the presidential campaign trail." Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), expressed similar sentiments, describing the governor's threat as "dangerous, disgusting, disgraceful, and disqualifying."

Prominent political commentator Max Boot labeled DeSantis' words as "deranged," while Bill Kristol, founder of the conservative site Bulwark, accused the governor of making a "bold play to dominate the maniacal psychopath lane in the Republican primary."

Despite his position as the runner-up in the Republican primary, DeSantis faces significant challenges, trailing more than 30 points behind former President Donald Trump, who remains a dominant figure in party politics. A recent poll conducted by the New York Times and Siena College in Iowa, the first state to vote, placed DeSantis 24 points behind.

In an attempt to reset his campaign, DeSantis has dismissed several staff members, including a conservative writer responsible for a controversial video ad featuring a Nazi symbol. However, he has not altered his hard-right rhetoric.

DeSantis' "slitting throats" comment is not new, having used the phrase before when discussing his desire to appoint a defense secretary who would be firm and strong. Such aggressive rhetoric and complaints about the so-called "deep state" align with far-right campaign strategies, a notion suggesting that a government of officials and bureaucrats hinders Republican agendas.

President Trump himself has been rumored to plan an administrative overhaul, aiming to appoint loyalists to fulfill what his close ally Steve Bannon has termed the "deconstruction of the administrative state."

The backlash against DeSantis' statement underscores the concern for federal employees who, as Kelley stated, are dedicated to serving their fellow Americans in various crucial roles, including supporting the military, providing healthcare to veterans, enforcing laws, safeguarding communities, and more.

In light of the controversy and the serious nature of his remarks, calls for Governor DeSantis to retract his statement have been made, with demands for respect and commendation towards public servants who serve the nation. Federal employees should not face death threats, especially from someone seeking to lead the US government.