Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sharply criticized media bias on Thursday, pointing out the disparity in how Democratic and Republican leaders are treated during disasters.

The comments came after a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with President-elect Donald Trump and other Republican governors.

The exchange occurred when a reporter questioned whether it was appropriate for Trump to criticize California Governor Gavin Newsom as wildfires continued to devastate parts of the state.

Celebrate Trump's Historic 2024 Victory with the Exclusive Trump 47th President Collection!

MORE NEWS: ‘DEI Green New Deal Hydrogen Bomb, Gavin Newsom was Fiddling’ – Victor Davis Hanson [WATCH]

DeSantis stepped in, challenging the media’s approach to covering such events.

“Is it appropriate for people in your industry to try to create division and to try to create narratives any time these things happen?” DeSantis asked the reporter.

He went on to highlight the double standard, stating, “Now, you’re not as interested in doing that because Newsom is a D. If Newsom was a Republican, you guys would go try … you would have him nailed to the wall for what they’re doing over there.”

DeSantis, who has overseen multiple disaster responses during his time as governor, referenced the media’s handling of the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse in Florida, where he was often criticized before all facts had emerged. “I think your track record of politicizing these things is very, very bad,” he said.

Do you think Elon Musk should purchase Facebook?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from RVM News, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

DeSantis also took aim at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who recently returned from a trip to Ghana despite the high fire risk in her city. “You should have been there preparing and doing that, and yet I don’t see a lot of heat being directed [toward her],” DeSantis said.

He noted that if Bass were a Republican, the criticism would have been much more severe. “I’d like to see some balance on how this is done. You can criticize the president-elect, but you also have to hold these other people accountable, and I have not seen that.”

MORE NEWS: Biden’s Attack On Women’s Sports and Basic Biology Struck Down by Federal Court [WATCH]

Bass returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday and faced criticism for her limited public statements addressing the fires.

Sky News reporter David Blevins confronted her as she deplaned, asking whether she regretted her trip abroad while wildfires ravaged her city.

Bass declined to respond, looking down and refusing to engage.

As wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, residents have criticized both Newsom and Bass for decisions that may have exacerbated fire risks.

MORE NEWS: Justin Trudeau Makes a Confession About Doing More with Border Security [WATCH]

Bass, in particular, has faced scrutiny for her decision to cut the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) budget by $17 million in prior years.

Critics argue that such cuts have left the city less prepared to handle emergencies of this scale.

The wildfires, which began on Tuesday, have claimed at least 10 lives and scorched over 35,800 acres.

Thousands of homes and businesses have been destroyed, leaving residents reeling from the devastation.

Firefighters continue to battle the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, the two largest blazes, which remain largely uncontained.

As of Thursday evening, CAL FIRE reported the Palisades Fire was 6% contained, while the Eaton Fire remained at 0% containment.

DeSantis’s remarks underscore the growing frustration with perceived media bias and lack of accountability for Democratic leaders.

As California continues to grapple with the destruction caused by the wildfires, pressure is mounting on Newsom and Bass to address past policy decisions and their roles in managing the crisis.