Internet schools Ron DeSantis after 'embarrassing' claim about an old English pub
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, got a quick history lesson on Sunday after he made what some described as an "embarrassing" claim about an old English pub.
DeSantis reshared a post on X from an account named "No Context Brits" that contained a picture of The Old Ferry Boat Inn, a pub in Hollywell that was allegedly established in the year 560. The post reads, "America is 250 years old. This pub is 1,466 years old."
DeSantis felt the need to chime in, writing, "And if it wasn’t for America, the insignia on the pub would be written in German."
The quizzical comment drew swift backlash, including from some members of DeSantis's party.
A Community Note was attached to DeSantis's post that pointed to multiple factual inaccuracies.
" Germany lost the Battle of Britain in 1940 — before the US joined the war. There was no risk of Britain being invaded after this time," the note reads in part.
"Hitler lacked the resources to establish the air superiority that was the prerequisite of a successful crossing of the English Channel," it added.
Conservative columnist David French of The New York Times also couldn't resist the opportunity to dunk on DeSantis.
"This is embarrassing from DeSantis. Britain stood alone, defending the free world, while we were on the sidelines, crippled by isolationism," French wrote on X. "And that's after Britain took the most horrific casualties confronting Imperial Germany in World War I."