DeSantis main spokesman resigns amid backlash
Fred Piccolo is out as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ communications director and will transfer around to the condition Division of Instruction to provide as government vice chancellor of the Florida Faculty Program.
Piccolo’s resignation arrives amid backlash from a 4 a.m. Xmas Eve tweet, in which he downplayed COVID-19 deaths. The tweet drew national headlines and led Piccolo to delete his Twitter account.
His tweet was responding to a photograph gallery of COVID-19 victims and healthcare personnel. He tweeted: “I’m questioning due to the fact 99% [of] Covid individuals endure should not you have 99 photos of survivors for every one particular fatality? Usually you’re just striving to develop a narrative that is not actuality.”
The tweet has considering the fact that been deleted.
Piccolo said Thursday that his departure from the governor’s office environment was unrelated to the tweet and that his transfer to the state Section of Training had been in the is effective “for a although.” He claimed he submitted his resignation letter on Dec. 23, a working day before the tweet.
“Just looking for anything new. Been in the comms [communications] planet for 23 yrs,” Piccolo stated in a text information Thursday morning to the Herald/Moments.
Piccolo, who has extended been acknowledged for his combative social media fashion with reporters, was tapped as DeSantis’ main spokesman in July. DeSantis has not however declared who will exchange him.
Piccolo will commence his new work at the Section of Instruction Jan. 6, the place he will reunite with Education and learning Commissioner Richard Corcoran. Piccolo previously served as Corcoran’s chief spokesman at the state Dwelling Speaker’s business.
Corcoran reported in a assertion Thursday that he was “thrilled” Piccolo was joining the division: “He brings a prosperity of information, ability, and years of working experience to the section and will present strategic leadership in building cross-divisional training procedures for write-up-secondary and occupation and adult education and learning to ensure Florida post-secondary pupils can proceed to receive a earth-course training.”
