Scott criticizes DeSantis over his support for Florida’s slavery curriculum as they stump in Iowa

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South Carolina’s U.S. Senator Tim Scott has openly criticized his Republican presidential competitor, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis, for his backing of new educational standards that obligate teachers to instruct middle school pupils about how enslaved people developed skills for their personal advantage.

Scott, the only African American Republican in the Senate, highlighted the true horrors of slavery after a town hall meeting in Ankeny. He mentioned the forced family separations, physical abuse, and sexual assaults endured by slaves, stressing the need for potential presidents to fully understand and acknowledge this grim history.

Scott also left room for DeSantis to clarify his stance, stating that people can have off days and may sometimes regret their words.

DeSantis has drawn criticism from various quarters, including educators in Florida, civil rights leaders, President Joe Biden’s administration, and even Black Republicans, over the controversial school standards. Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black VP in American history, visited Florida recently to condemn the curriculum.

DeSantis, however, defended the new slavery teachings, suggesting that the country’s struggles are partly due to D.C. Republicans accepting false narratives propagated by the left. On the campaign trail in Iowa, he vowed to defend Florida against false accusations and pledged to continue upholding the truth.

This dispute indicates a shift in campaign strategies for both Scott and DeSantis, who had previously refrained from attacking each other directly and had largely directed their criticism at President Biden.

Other Black Republican presidential candidates, including former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, along with Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt, and Michigan’s John James, have also criticized DeSantis over the curriculum.

The dispute occurred as Scott and DeSantis were campaigning in Iowa ahead of the state Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner. At the dinner, 13 candidates, including frontrunner Donald Trump, will address an estimated audience of 1,200 activists.

DeSantis defended the standards once more in response to criticism, posing a question: would one align with Vice President Harris and liberal media, or stand with Florida? He praised the creators of the standards and dismissed accusations of political motivation.

A super PAC supporting DeSantis reacted to Scott’s criticism on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, by denouncing the posts as “incredibly sloppy or intentionally disingenuous.” They reposted a video of DeSantis defending the curriculum.

Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C., and can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP.

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