Gov. Ron DeSantis says systemic racism is 'horse manure,' slams critical race theory as a 'race-based' Marxism

Gov. Ron DeSantis left no doubt on his position on the hot button issues of systemic racism and critical race theory. The Republican governor of Florida dismissed systemic racism, while also ripping critical race theory.

DeSantis made the remarks during a Fox News town hall that aired Thursday night and was moderated by Laura Ingraham. The "Red State Trailblazers" town hall featured Republican governors who opened up their states, including DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Ingraham asked DeSantis if he believed that the United States is a systemically racist country, to which he unabashedly replied, "Well, it's a bunch of horse manure. I mean, give me a break."

"This country has had more opportunity for more people than any country in the history of the world and it doesn't matter where you trace your ancestry from," DeSantis said during the town hall. "We've had people that have been able to succeed."

DeSantis then lampooned critical race theory.

"And here's the problem with things like critical race theory that they're peddling," DeSantis said. "They're basically saying all our institutions are bankrupt, and they're, they're illegitimate. How do you have a society if everything in your society is illegitimate?"

Last month, DeSantis pledged to purge critical race theory from Florida public schools because the CRT ideology isn't worth "one red cent of taxpayer money."

"Let me be clear, there's no room in our classrooms for things like critical race theory," DeSantis said. "Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money. So we will invest in actual, solid, true curriculum and we will be a leader in the development and implementation of a world class civics education."

Also during the town hall, DeSantis was asked about protecting biological females by banning transgender athletes in sports.

"I have a 4-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old daughter, and they're very athletic," he said. "And we want to have opportunities for our girls. They deserve an even playing field. And that's what we're doing."

DeSantis vowed to sign the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, which would prohibit males from competing on women's school sports teams.

The Florida governor was proud of banning vaccine passports in his state.

"I'm proud to be the first I think, elected official in the country, certainly statewide or governor to say, we're not having vaccine passports in the State of Florida," DeSantis said. "And not just saying government can't make you, private businesses can't make you. Because here's the thing, you have a right to participate in society, without them asking you to divulge this type of health information, but just to go to a movie, just to go to a ballgame."

Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump expressed interest in running again in 2024, and he would "certainly" consider DeSantis as his running mate.

"He is a friend of mine. Certainly, Ron would be considered," Trump replied. "I endorsed Ron, and after I endorsed him, he took off like a rocket ship. He's done a great job as governor. They like that. I'm just saying what I read and you read. They love that ticket."