Protesters chanting ‘no oil money’ argue over Ron DeSantis: Chaos at Fox News town hall as protesters derail end of crucial field for Iowa caucusgoers

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ pivotal speech to Iowa voters was derailed Tuesday night as protesters chanted “no more oil money.”

The Republican hopeful was answering final questions from Fox News hosts Brett Baier and Martha MacCallum as protesters caused chaos by jumping up, waving banners and shouting.

Security removed the hecklers after someone managed to get on stage as DeSantis said, “You live and learn with these people.

“Well guys, that was a mistake.” he told the activists as they were led away. “You didn’t understand that properly.”

At least one of them wore a shirt from the Sunrise Movement, a group whose mission is to “force the government to end the era of fossil fuel elites.”

The GOP candidate then composed himself and continued answering a question about the “culture of life” and abortion.

The interruption came at the end of the Fox News town hall, where DeSantis made one of his final pleas to caucusgoers with just five days to go.

Security removed the hecklers when DeSantis said, “Well guys, that was a mistake. You didn’t understand that correctly. OK’

Donald Trump still has a commanding lead over the Republican field, with DeSantis and Haley battling for second place.

DeSantis focused his attacks on Haley before targeting Trump, telling Iowans they can stop the “self-fulfilling prophecy” of his victory.

The 2024 hopefuls said the media helped boost Trump by taking on the former president with “relative ease” compared to coverage in 2016 and 2020.

“I honestly think Iowans have it in their power to change all that,” DeSantis told an audience member at a town hall in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday when asked why he believes candidates other than Trump are struggling to to gain control over the elections.

“I think there is some kind of self-fulfilling prophecy,” the Florida governor added. “I mean, the media likes to report on polls all the time.”

A security guard at the Fox News town hall deals with one of the protesters who tried to get on stage Tuesday night

Former President Trump continues to dominate in the national polls — although his lead is shrinking significantly in New Hampshire, where former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley shot into second place within single digits.

He said Trump remains at the top partly because of media coverage.

“I think there’s a reason why the media has gone easy on him,” he said Tuesday at his town hall with Fox News hosts Martha McCallum and Bret Baier. ‘They hated him. He was the worst thing ever.”

DeSantis claims Democrats want 2024 to be about Trump’s legal troubles, rather than his presidential record. “I think they want 2024 to be all about these things,” he said.

“Ultimately, it is the people who decide this, not the polls,” DeSantis emphasized.

The town hall was the second in a series of three in Iowa with Fox News — the first was with Nikki Haley on Monday night and the third will be with Donald Trump on Wednesday as the other two candidates debate in town.

DeSantis flew back to Iowa after spending the beginning of the week in Tallahassee, Florida, where he delivered his State of the State address Tuesday morning before returning to Des Moines to reach City Hall.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday at a Fox News town hall in West Des Moines that Iowa caucusgoers could end the “self-fulfilling prophecy” of a Donald Trump victory

DeSantis flew back to Iowa from Florida on Tuesday evening for the town hall after delivering his State of the State address in Tallahassee earlier in the day

Meanwhile, Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis remained in Iowa with Texas Rep. Chip Roy to continue campaigning for governor.

At the town hall, DeSantis noticed his wife and son, Mason, 5, knocking on his door in the snow while he was in Florida.

Casey and Mason were in the audience at City Hall on Tuesday.