Two women rush stage to protest Ron DeSantis speech

Two protesters rushed onto the stage Friday night as Ron DeSantis addressed a fundraiser for the New Hampshire Republican Party.

The Florida governor looked shocked as the two young women ran onto the podium and began unrolling a banner.

“Jews Against DeSantis,” they shouted.

Several security guards ran to the dais to pull them off and pulled them out as the governor resumed his remarks.

DeSantis shrugged, “There’s got to be some spice in the speech, right?”

“You need to have a little fun,” he continued.

He added that he didn’t know why people would pay the ticket price to make such a move — tickets were $150 each — but added “different blows for different people.”

The audience applauded him.

Last year, DeSantis was criticized for refusing to condemn Nazi demonstrations near Orlando. He accused his political opponents who tried to “smudge me as if I had anything to do with it.”

Many Republicans in the state denounced the protests, but DeSantis remained silent. He claimed his political opponents were trying to “use this as some sort of political issue,” adding, “We’re not playing their game.”

The demonstrators on stage weren’t the only ones to target Florida’s governor on Friday night. There were also protesters outside the venue in Manchester, waving Donald Trump signs.

DeSantis has received national attention amid speculation that he will run for president next year.

He has had a controversial tenure in Florida. He kept the state open during the COVID pandemic, drawing cheers from conservatives and criticism from medical experts. He has also prevented Florida schools from teaching gender issues.

On Thursday night, he signed into law a controversial abortion bill that bans the procedure after six weeks, long before most women know they’re pregnant.

Democrats have threatened to pursue him on this issue.

“The signing of an abortion ban is the latest sign in DeSantis’ long record of brutality — and Planned Parenthood advocacy groups and political organizations will be sure it’s a record the public won’t forget,” Jenny said. Lawson, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes in a statement.

New Hampshire is one of the few states where DeSantis has led Trump in polls on the 2024 presidential race. However, the former president has seen a recovery in his numbers as he faces trial in New York on charges related to a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The Florida governor has not formally announced that he is running for president in 2024. But he is on a book tour that many see as a precursor to such a campaign. It takes him to key early voting states like Iowa, Michigan and New Hampshire.

DeSantis heads to South Carolina next week — another major stop in the Republican presidential primary process.

Ron DeSantis addressed a Republican Party fundraiser in New Hampshire

The protesters were quickly removed

According to New Hampshire Republican Party chairman Chris Ager, DeSantis headlined the most successful Republican Party fundraiser in its history.

“We raised over $382,000,” Ager said at the Amos Tuck dinner. “Biggest ever.”

The ballroom was packed with just over 500 people, according to party count.

Tickets sold for $150 a pop or $500 for a VIP ticket. DeSantis joined the VIP reception prior to his speech to take photos with the senior donors.

The diner is named after Amos Tuck, who is believed to have founded the Republican Party in the 1850s in Exeter, New Hampshire.