Ron DeSantis Brutally Mocked Over Florida Announcement

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been accused of taking credit for an investment scheme that arrived from a bill signed by President Joe Biden.

DeSantis, who is running for president, said on Tuesday that he will be awarding $28 million through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to expand semiconductor and chip manufacturing through five workforce development projects in the Sunshine State.

"Today's awards will expand Florida's manufacturing industry and provide high-quality jobs for Floridians," DeSantis in a statement. "In Florida, we are laying the groundwork for a strong economic future by investing in growing, high-demand industries that offer high-wage jobs for our residents."

While sharing the announcement on X, formerly Twitter, a number of social-media users wrote that the money arrived after Biden signed the CHIPS and Science Act in August 2022. The bill aimed to build up U.S. manufacturing and technological competitiveness against China by boosting American semiconductor research, development, and production. The White House said at the time that the U.S. produces 10 percent of the world's supply semiconductors—although none of the most-advanced chips—with America relying on the 75 percent produced globally by East Asia.

While DeSantis and Biden have put bipartisan differences aside to work together in the past after Florida was hit by natural disasters, the governor makes no mention in his official statement or social-media posts of the president signing the bill. Newsweek has emailed DeSantis' office on Friday for comment.

In response, DeSantis was criticized by social media for failing to acknowledge Biden's role in Florida being awarded the millions of dollars via the Job Growth Grant Fund to be used in semiconductor and chip manufacturing.

"Thank you @POTUS for signing the CHIPS and Science Act!" Nikki Barnes, a member of the Democratic National Committee, posted on X in response to DeSantis' announcement.

Ben Meiselas, co-founder of the liberal news website MeidasTouch, posted: "No shame. No humility. Not the slightest thanks to the source of the funds from President Biden's policies."

Fellow X user John Prince added: "You, personally, had nothing to do with obtaining those funds, @GovRonDeSantis You are merely releasing the money provided to you by President Joseph R. Biden. And you should publicly acknowledge that instead of falsely taking credit. You will never be the president of these United States."

The X account @pjampaganza wrote in reply to DeSantis: "I thank you for leaving out the fact that those funds YOU are providing was provided to Floridians from Pres. Biden. So YOU have provided nothing. I'm sure something you don't want your supporters to know. Your post would have been better with 'thank you Pres. Biden at the end.'"

Other social-media users noted that both of Florida's Republican Senators—Marco Rubio and Rick Scott—voted against passing the CHIPS Act when it came to the upper chamber last July. The bill passed on a 64-33 vote, with 17 Republicans voting with the Democratic majority.

DeSantis' office said that the five projects that will receive a share of the $28 million fund are: NeoCity Osceola County, Valencia College, Santa Fe College, Lake Technical College and Eastern Florida State College.

"Less than two months ago, Governor DeSantis called for Job Growth Grant Fund applications to strengthen Florida's semiconductor manufacturing industry and to enhance its workforce—our partners in economic development and workforce education around the state responded overwhelmingly," Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said in a statement.

"Today's awards provide more education options for the learner's benefit and ensure that crucial industries have qualified and eager candidates interested in working in their field," Kelly added.