On April 1, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spoke at an event in Garden City, bringing out supporters, critics, journalists, and Nassau County police.
Speaking at the Cradle of Aviation Museum before roughly 200 attendees, journalists, and fellow electeds, DeSantis weighed in on numerous political topics ranging from COVID to criminal justice for about an hour during the free event, entitled “The Florida Blueprint.”
At the Garden City event as well as an event earlier that day in Pennsylvania, DeSantis was reportedly on the road promoting his book, The Courage to be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival.
Addressing charges against former President Donald Trump brought by New York County’s Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, DeSantis said, “This guy is doing politics.”
Local politician and former gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin helped introduce DeSantis at the event, calling DeSantis the greatest governor in the country. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman also spoke before DeSantis, telling the crowd, “We want you to give him such an applause,” and, “God bless Governor DeSantis.”
While DeSantis, Zeldin, and Blakeman have all generally shown public support for Trump, supporters of the former president also came out to the event seemingly to mock or criticize DeSantis, a fellow Republican and would-be presidential nominee.
During DeSantis’ speech, multiple Trump supporters vocalized their disapproval, including one man who was removed from the free event after chanting “Trump!”
A few dozen Trump supporters also protested and/or rallied outside the Cradle of Aviation Museum after a car caravan to the location, bringing along scores of flags between them.
Around ten counter-protesters were also present, holding signs indicating their criticism of both Trump and DeSantis, and voicing support for marginalized groups who have been targeted by their policies, including the LGBTQ community.
Before the 7:00 p.m. event began, Nassau County Police Department officers watched over the protest groups from security barricades, from a sniper setup on the roof of the museum, and using at least one drone.