Chris Christie Slams Ron DeSantis’ Reaction on Florida’s Black History Curriculum Controversy

Former New Jersey Governor says DeSantis' remarks are "not the words of leadership."

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie took a stand against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' handling of the Black History curriculum controversy.

Christie, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, blasted the reaction of his White House contender rival DeSantis in his recent remarks.

Chris Christie vs. Ron DeSantis Over Florida's Black History Curriculum Controversy

Chris Christie
TRENTON, NJ - MARCH 3: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie fields questions at a wide-ranging news conference, March 3, 2016 at the Statehouse in Trenton, New Jersey. Christie defended his endorsement of Donald Trump for president amid calls for him to resign. Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

As per NBC News, the former New Jersey Gov. accused DeSantis of defending "slavery lessons" and, more importantly, failing to exhibit true leadership in a matter of crucial importance.

Vice President Kamala Harris recently dubbed Florida's new Black history education standards "propaganda." The new guidelines now require teachers to teach their students how enslaved people learned and benefitted from slavery.

Christie responded to the controversy, saying, "Governor DeSantis started this fire with the bill that he signed, and he [does not] want to take responsibility for whatever is done in the aftermath of it."

The former New Jersey Gov. also criticized DeSantis' recent remark, denying his involvement in the controversy. Christie says, "'I [did not] do it' and 'I'm not involved in it' are not the words of leadership."

Newsweek reports that the Florida Gov. recently defended the new educational standards. He stresses, "I [did not] do it, and I [was not] involved in it."

Ron DeSantis and Florida's Black History Curriculum Controversy

Ron DeSantis
MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 29: Governor Ron DeSantis gives a briefing regarding Hurricane Dorian to the media at National Hurricane Center on August 29, 2019 in Miami, Florida. Hurricane Dorian is expected to become a Category 4 as it approaches Florida in the upcoming days. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images

Florida Gov. DeSantis, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, is now in hot water over the Florida Department of Education's new standard for the incoming school year. As per Newsweek, the controversy centers on how African American history is being taught in public schools.

The new rules require education to teach middle schoolers "how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their benefit." In other words, it teaches young minds how Black folks benefited from slavery years ago by learning necessary skills.

NBC News notes that the New Black History Curriculum was required by the DeSantis' 2022 law named "Stop Wrongs To Our Kinds and Employees Act. The Florida Gov. dubs the legislation as the "Stop WOKE Act."

The former New Jersey Gov. made such remarks during his recent CBS' Face the Nation interview.

Besides DeSantis, Christie also took a swipe at other 2024 Presidential contenders. He also blasted former President Donald Trump, US President Joe Biden, former Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina.

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