Florida Governor Ron DeSantis publicly questioned Representative Byron Donalds' stance on the state's new history curriculum, suggesting Donalds was aligning himself with Vice President Kamala Harris' criticisms. During an Iowa campaign stop, DeSantis presented Donalds with a choice: support Florida or side with Harris and those who claim the curriculum teaches that slaves benefited from slavery. DeSantis defended the curriculum, emphasizing its development by "serious scholars" and denying any political motivations. He urged Donalds to support the state against what he called Harris' and the media's misrepresentations.
The controversial curriculum includes a line stating that slaves developed skills they could sometimes use for personal gain. This single line, highlighted by Harris, has sparked widespread criticism and accusations of misrepresentation. Donalds, while praising the overall quality of the curriculum, expressed concern over this specific sentence. He later clarified his position, stating his support for the standards overall and criticizing the DeSantis campaign for amplifying the issue.
Donalds asserted his consistent opposition to the Biden-Harris administration and defended his right to criticize a single sentence within the curriculum. DeSantis reiterated his defense of the curriculum, highlighting the involvement of Black history scholars and their intent to create robust standards. He accused critics of distorting the curriculum's message.
