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Al Sharpton goes after DeSantis for mocking imitation of Hakeem Jeffries, because of course it’s ‘offensive and racist’

May 4, 2026 | | Print Article

After America’s Governor roasted “Temu Obama” over his “maximum warfare” remarks, Rev. Al Sharpton resorted like clockwork to claims of “GOP racist rhetoric.”

(Video Credit: MS NOW)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) may be serving his last term in the Sunshine State, but while his political future remained unknown he’s hardly been coasting to the finish line. Having once again taken charge in redistricting as rumors swirled about a possible position in the president’s administration, a knock against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) bristled MS NOW’s Sharpton because of an alleged “offensive accent” in particular.

During Sunday’s installment of “PoliticsNation,” the host interviewed Florida Democratic Chair and failed gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried and said, “Now, Republicans are trying to claim that black majority districts across the country are racially discriminatory. Yet, Florida’s governor has been out this week mocking House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, using an offensive accent.”

“What do you make of the GOP racist rhetoric right now at the same time they’re dismantling civil rights protections that have been an important part of our democracy for decades now?” asked Sharpton.

The specific reference pertained to remarks made by DeSantis during an announcement pertaining to the I-95/U.S. 1 Interchange where he brought up Jeffries with what many considered a spot-on impression.

“We gon’ do maximum warfare against Republicans. Florida Republicans, you ‘F’ around, you gonna find out,” said the governor waving his finger about like the New York Democrat. DeSantis went on to remind how he himself said, “Make my day,” to leftist threats of redistricting. “… you want to come down here and spend money in Florida, roll the dice and take your chances.”

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As had been reported, DeSantis encouraged Jeffries to make the trip to Florida, saying, “Please. Be my guest. I will pay for you to come down to Florida to campaign. I’ll put you up in the Florida governor’s mansion. We will take you fishing.”

Unsurprisingly, Fried leveraged Sharpton’s prompt to the fullest as re-upped tired attacks against the governor that viewed reforms against divisive indoctrination at government-run schools as similarly “racist.”

“Remember that this has been DeSantis’ M.O. Just a couple years ago, he got rid of black history in our school system,” said Fried. “Back in 2022, he actually vetoed the maps from the legislature during the actual redistricting period of time so that he can draw his own maps to dismantle one of our black elected congressional seats in the panhandle.”

“So this is what Ron DeSantis has consistently been doing. You know, the ‘Stop Woke Act,’ the DEI attacks. So, I’m not surprised that DeSantis continues to stoop lower and lower and lower when it comes to this rhetoric,” she went on before her attack was turned on President Donald Trump for mocking officials and dehumanizing them.

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Meanwhile, Trump had turned to the GOP on Sunday asking if “Low IQ” Jeffries was subject to impeachment, a query to found the governor tacking on, “Hakeem wanted ‘maximum warfare,’ didn’t he?”

Kevin Haggerty
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