{"id":2571499,"date":"2026-02-19T15:11:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T20:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-says-he-wears-beshears-criticism-as-badge-of-honor\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T15:12:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T20:12:36","slug":"desantis-says-he-wears-beshears-criticism-as-badge-of-honor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-says-he-wears-beshears-criticism-as-badge-of-honor\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis says he wears Beshear&#8217;s criticism as &#8216;badge of honor&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdesantis-says-he-wears-beshears-criticism-as-badge-of-honor%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571499&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Ron DeSantis visited Kentucky to advocate for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/republicans-ask-for-spending-cuts-as-congress-prepares-for-debt-ceiling-battle\/\" title=\"Republicans Ask For Spending Cuts As Congress Prepares For Debt Ceiling Battle\">balanced budget amendment<\/a> and used the possibility to dismiss Beshear\u2019s criticisms as a \u201cbadge of honour.\u201d DeSantis argued against Beshear\u2019s policies, pointing to beshear\u2019s actions during the COVID era and positions on gender identity issues, while Beshear defended his veto of a 2023 bill limiting discussions of gender identity in young students and highlighted a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >2024 executive order banning conversion therapy<\/a> for minors.<\/p>\n<p>Beshear also commented on President Trump\u2019s decision to uninvite certain governors from a governors\u2019 dinner, saying he stands with the invited governors and would skip the event if he weren\u2019t invited. He is serving his second term and is set to release a book, Go and Do Likewise: How to Heal a Broken Country, in September.<\/p>\n<p>the article includes a tweet embedded from DeSantis and notes continued coverage of related political stories.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DeSantis says he wears Beshear&rsquo;s criticism as &lsquo;badge of honor&rsquo; during Kentucky visit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2510521\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4409882\/desantis-calls-april-redistricting-special-session\/\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) dismissed one of his fellow governors&rsquo; criticisms of him as a &ldquo;badge of honor.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Late-night TV host Jon Stewart asked Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4463780\/andy-beshear-democrat-message-2028-speculation\/\">Andy Beshear<\/a> (D-KY) which governor would make him say, &ldquo;Oh, f***,&rdquo; if he saw him at an event, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ttaBXnqmRwg\">to which Beshear answered<\/a>, &ldquo;Ron DeSantis.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4464034\/democrat-juliana-stratton-illinois-senate-trump-ad\/\">Democrat Juliana Stratton gets direct in Illinois Senate ad: &#8216;F*** Trump&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4463718\/tucker-carlson-claim-detained-israel\/\">Former Israeli prime minister shames &#8216;chickens***&#8217; Tucker Carlson over claim he was detained in Israel<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4463968\/tim-scott-georgia-gop-narrow-senate-candidates-ossoff\/\">Tim Scott urges Georgia GOP to narrow down Senate candidates in fight against Ossoff<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The Florida governor visited Kentucky on Wednesday <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GovRonDeSantis\/status\/2024138633268048081?s=20\">to address state lawmakers<\/a> about the need for a balanced budget amendment, and was asked afterward about Beshear&rsquo;s jab.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t really know much about the governor here; I saw someone had shown me those comments because I was coming here,&rdquo; DeSantis said. &ldquo;All I can say is a guy that sends state police to try to block people from worshipping on Easter Sunday, a guy that&rsquo;s obsessed with gender mutilation of minors. If that&rsquo;s the person that&rsquo;s criticizing me, I wear that as a badge of honor.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Governor DeSantis Holds Press Conference in Kentucky Supporting a Balanced Budget Amendment <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OtdZVpeNXw\">https:\/\/t.co\/OtdZVpeNXw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GovRonDeSantis\/status\/2024157921353875780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 18, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>DeSantis was referring to Beshear&rsquo;s executive order from March 2020, which <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/430001\/vandalism-and-quarantine-orders-kentucky-church-meets-resistance-for-in-person-easter-service\/\">barred public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic<\/a>. Regarding transgender minors, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/legiscan.com\/KY\/text\/SB150\/2023\">Beshear vetoed a bill in 2023<\/a> that would ensure children in fifth grade and under don&rsquo;t receive instruction or presentation with &ldquo;a goal or purpose of students studying or exploring gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Beshear said he vetoed this bill since <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apps.legislature.ky.gov\/record\/23rs\/sb150\/veto.pdf\">his faith teaches him &ldquo;all children are children of God,&rdquo;<\/a> and improving access to transgender care marked &ldquo;an important means of improving health outcomes.&rdquo; The Kentucky governor also signed an executive order in 2024 that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kentucky.gov\/Pages\/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&amp;prId=2288\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-does-tim-walz-bring-to-the-table-for-harris-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"What does Tim Walz bring to the table for Harris? - Washington Examiner\">banned conversion therapy<\/a> on minors in the state<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Beshear condemned President Donald Trump&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4455365\/trump-kevin-stitt-wrong-governors-dinner-snub\/\">decision to uninvite<\/a> Govs. Wes Moore (D-MD) and Jared Polis (D-CO) from the upcoming governors&rsquo; dinner. Beshear said on Thursday he stands with both governors: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/cspan\/status\/2024507817462215015?s=20\">&ldquo;If we&rsquo;re all not invited, I&rsquo;m not going.&rdquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4463703\/wes-moore-doesnt-answer-to-democratic-party\/\"><strong>WES MOORE SAYS HE DOESN&rsquo;T &lsquo;ANSWER&rsquo; TO DEMOCRATIC PARTY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Beshear is serving his second term as governor, and is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4461353\/beshear-latest-democrat-memoir-2028-election\/\">releasing a book<\/a> titled <em>Go and Do Likewise: How to Heal a Broken Country<\/em> in September.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> contacted both governors&rsquo; offices for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DeSantis calls Beshear critique a badge of honor in KY<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2571500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-collage-02cvb5whb-1771524157526-e1771527676361.jpg?1771509848&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[25251,7375,4980],"class_list":["post-2571499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-beshear","tag-criticism","tag-desantis"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/image-collage-02cvb5whb-1771524157526-e1771527676361.jpg?1771509848&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571499"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571503,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571499\/revisions\/2571503"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}