Team DeSantis Calls Out NBC News for 'Lie of Omission' Over Iowa Relief

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spokesman Jeremy Redfern had some words for NBC News this morning after a story was published claiming DeSantis "bragged" about sending aide to Iowa after a building collapsed when the mission had been "canceled".

"This is a lie by omission from @Mdixon55," tweeted Redfern.

"He knew it was a lie and he published the lie. Iowa modified the mission. Just because a mission was modified does not mean the entire mission was cancelled. Iowa asked for assistance, and Florida responded."

Redfern included images of Florida DOT personnel on the ground in Davenport after a building tragically collapsed leaving three dead.

On June 5, DeSantis tweeted, "At the request of Iowa, I've directed @FLSERT and @myFDOT to deploy personnel to assist in the ongoing recovery in Davenport following the recent building collapse." 

The NBC News article cites an email they say they obtained through a public records request shows the mission was cancelled at the time DeSantis sent the tweet. Redfern says the mission was modified, not cancelled.

"This is why it's a lie by omission, Matt. You're leaving out the rest of the story. Cancelling part of the mission isn't the same as cancelling all of the mission. EMAC requests are modified all the time. You're a liar, and you've always been a liar," Tweeted Redfern to Dixon.

Redfern tweeted an email from Chasity Brown, Statewide Mutual Aide Coordinator for the State Emergency Response Team on June 5 at 9:36am. The email states "I have corresponded with our EM counter parts in Iowa this morning and they are requesting the following EMAC request modifications: They will accept an FDOT and USAR personnel that are currently in Iowa or in the air en route for operational periods through mid to late week. Dixon sent a tweet attempting to clarify which was met by swift rebuke from Redfern who called Dixon a liar.

 

Former President Donald Trump's Twitter supporters jumped on the NBC story to attack DeSantis, who is challenging Trump for the GOP nomination for President. Alex Bruesewitz, CEO of X Strategies which took $35,000 from Trump's Save America PAC, tweeted  "Wow. Rod DeSantis bragged about sending help to Iowa — 10 hours after being told it wasn't needed Rod is using state resources to help his Presidential campaign. So blatantly corrupt!"

"You are pushing NBC lies now?" replied Redfern.

Kyle Lamb, head of Research and Data for Team DeSantis, reminded Bruesewitz of a tweet he sent in reply to an NBC News story claiming Trump was raising money off of Hershel Walker's name and keeping 90% of the donations.

"Lol! NBC News isn't exactly a trusted news source," tweeted Bruesewitz on November 16, 2022.

Brusewitz has changed his tune on NBC News as he has changed his tune on Governor Ron DeSantis of whom he tweeted on December 20, 2021: "No Governor handled the Chinese Virus better than my governor, @RonDeSantisFL. Blessed to be a resident of the FREE state of Florida."