[Hoot Gibson]

The Washington Examiner is normally pretty reliable but they may have gotten this story wrong. WTSP, Channel 10 TV posted the following story. I have given this issue more thought and concluded that I may have been too hasty in criticizing Trump for not holding a rally somewhere else this weekend. Florida is Trump's home and this is a big holiday weekend. I might have made a different decision but I would rather see Trump holding a rally in Sarasota as seeing Biden make an appearance anywhere near the site of the disaster. Biden is just looking for a place to take a few more dishonest shots at Republicans. 

DeSantis is this nation's top governor and Trump is its greatest living president. Biden IS a disaster.

DeSantis' office denies report governor asked Trump to postpone Sarasota rally

The governor's former communications director earlier tweeted the report in the Washington Examiner is false, with the rally still on for Saturday.

SARASOTA, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office is pushing back on a report that the governor requested former President Donald Trump not hold his upcoming rally in Sarasota given the tragedy at the collapsed Surfside condominium building.

The conservative Washington Examiner news outlet reported Wednesday that DeSantis' office "made a direct plea" to the ex-president's team to postpone the July 3 rally.

It remains to go on as scheduled, with the president not budging, the Examiner reports. The Sarasota Police Department recently sent out a traffic advisory to the public in advance of expected traffic delays near the Sarasota Fairgrounds all day.

An unnamed Republican source reportedly told the Examiner that Trump's team needs to "read the room" given ongoing efforts to find survivors amid the rubble of the collapsed building.

DeSantis' team denied the report.

"Governor DeSantis is focusing on his duties as Governor and the tragedy in Surfside, and has never suggested or requested that events planned in different parts of Florida — from the Stanley Cup finals to President Trump’s rally — should be canceled," spokesperson Christina Pusha said in an emailed statement to 10 Tampa Bay.

"He wants all Floridians to enjoy the holiday weekend and celebrate Independence Day however they choose, while keeping the Surfside families and first responders in their prayers."

Helen Aguirre Ferré, the governor's former communications director, earlier tweeted that the story is "completely false."