DeSantis avoids texting and emailing as governor: Report
Ryan King
Video Embed
If Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) phone is buzzing, it probably isn’t flooded with texts or emails related to his job as governor.
DeSantis avoids emailing and texting in his capacity as governor, opting instead for phone calls and face-to-face discussions while leaning on his staff to coordinate meetings, sources told Semafor. His allies contend this strategy is needed due to the high-level nature of his conversions, but the tact also helps him avoid having a digital footprint.
DESANTIS VS. TRUMP AS THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE
“SCOOP: Governor spends days governing,” DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin ribbed on Twitter following the report.
Under Florida’s Public Records Law and Sunshine Law, the public is given the right to access a plethora of information, including government proceedings and communications.
“He is enemy No. 1 for a lot of people,” a source told Semafor, underscoring that DeSantis was not seeking to hide anything. “I think that’s more of taking a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach.”
Other top officials in Florida had similar practices. His predecessor, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), had a no-texting policy, per the report.
“This isn’t news. Everyone who pays attention already knew this. Also it’s good that the governor of our state isn’t texting or emailing all day,” tweeted Christina Pushaw, a member of DeSantis’s campaign staff.
Former President Donald Trump, DeSantis’s top foe should he jump into the 2024 GOP primary, famously refrained from text and email communication during his White House days. The governor has consistently polled second in a hypothetical primary after Trump, per the latest RealClearPolitics polling aggregate.
The Washington Examiner contacted a DeSantis spokesperson for comment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
DeSantis has cast himself as a disciplined manager who runs an airtight operation, seemingly juxtaposing himself with Trump, whose administration was riddled with leaks to the press.
“For the last four years, I didn’t have a single leak in my administration,” DeSantis said earlier this month. “You could have the best vision in the world, make the best decisions as the executive — if you don’t have people that will carry out that and implement it, then it’s not gonna amount to very much.”