Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday his state was "proud" to be the home of late conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who was "obviously a legend."
"We were proud in Florida to be home to where he applied his trade for 20 years," the governor told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "He obviously was a legend. Somebody will succeed in the 12-3 p.m. slot but no one will ever replace him."
DeSantis said he was happy to have been on Limbaugh's show a few times and to have gotten to know him.
Limbaugh had also mentioned that DeSantis had been brave enough to keep his state open during the pandemic when other states were not willing to do that, and the governor on Thursday insisted that "lockdowns don't work."
"If you look at Florida, our per capita mortality for COVID-19 is less than the national average, our senior mortality for COVID-19 is less than California's per capita," said DeSantis. "Our schools are open. Every parent can send their kids to school, and provide for their families."
Meanwhile, DeSantis appeared on the program with World War II veteran Vernon Cummings, who was getting his coronavirus vaccination, with the vet being the 2 millionth senior in the state to get his shot.
Cummings, 95, was vaccinated on live TV as part of the state's new house call program.
"We are going to hit our 2 million seniors vaccinated, and I can't think of a better fellow to have that honor," said DeSantis.