Pres. Joe Biden Says ‘Governor Who?’ in Respond to Ron DeSantis’ Criticism, Florida Governor’s Office Fires Back
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during an event on the South Lawn of the White House August 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Biden delivered remarks on the administration’s efforts to strengthen American leadership on clean cars and trucks. Win McNamee/Getty Images

President Joe Biden has responded to criticism he received from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, August 4.

The president took questions from the reporters on Thursday, August 5, and was asked what his reply to DeSantis' remarks that he should do his job and he'll stand on his way.

Joe Biden responded to the question by saying, "Governor who?" and laughed. The president added that that was his response, Breitbart reported. NBC News White House Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell tweeted Biden's remark.

Earlier this week, the president called out Florida and Texas, which are currently one of the virus hotspots, with the surging COVID cases in their respective states.

Joe Biden urged the leaders of the said states to help, and if they are not going to help, "at least get out of the way of people trying to do the right thing,"

READ NEXT: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to Joe Biden: 'Do Your Job' After President Tells Him to 'Get Out of the Way' on COVID

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Hits Back at Joe Biden

Ron DeSantis responded to Joe Biden by saying he should do his job and he would stand in the way of policies if he feels it would not benefit his state, Fox News reported.

The Republican governor noted that if the president tries to restrict people by imposing mandates and trying to ruin jobs and livelihoods, he will continue to stand in Biden's way.

Ron DeSantis said that he is standing for the people of Florida and that the president should do his job and secure the border, which he claimed is "wide open."

"And until you do that, I don't want to hear a blip about COVID from you. Thank you," the Florida governor added as Tampa Bay Times reported.

Meanwhile, DeSantis' office has a response to Biden's recent "Governor who?" remark. DeSantis' Press Secretary Christina Pushaw told Daily Wire it would be more convincing if Joe Biden had not spent the previous two days attacking the Florida governor.

Pushaw added that she guessed the president realized that Ron DeSantis is not the guy he wants to pick up a fight with.

Joe Biden Criticizes Republican Governors

Earlier this year, after lifting mask mandates in their states, the president noted that Republican governors were having "Neanderthal thinking."

Joe Biden said he thinks it was a big mistake, adding that he hoped everybody has realized that masks make a difference. He noted that it was critical that state officials follow the science.

Ron DeSantis had earlier prohibited masks from being required in schools. He also threatened that he would strip funding from schools that do, Business Insider reported.

The state of Florida had reported 20,133 new COVID cases on Wednesday, August 4, which marks the second-highest single-day case count since the pandemic started. The state accounted for about 22 percent of the country's new cases despite making up about 6.5 percent of the U.S. population.

Florida had also reported 84 new deaths. State hospitals have temporarily pause elective surgeries to conserve staff and make room for infected patients, Miami Herald reported. In Texas, hospitalizations have increased by 292 percent over the past month, particularly in North Texas.

Chief State Epidemiologist Jennifer Shuford said all of them at the Texas Department of State Health Services are very concerned. She noted that Texas is showing a steep increase in cases and hospitalizations.

READ MORE: Moderna Scientists Warn Against New COVID Variants That Could Drive a New Wave of Transmission

This article is owned by Latin Post

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: 'I Am Standing in Your Way:' DeSantis Claps Back at Biden Over COVID-19 Surge - From WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando