Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Friday that he would order flags to fly at half-staff in honor of conservative talk-radio star Rush Limbaugh, who died this week at the age of 70.
“I know they’re still figuring out arrangements. But what we do when there’s things of this magnitude, once the date of internment for Rush is announced, we’re going to be lowering the flags to half-staff,” DeSantis said during a political event in Palm Beach County, where Limbaugh lived.
WATCH:
"There's not much that needs to be said, the guy was an absolute legend."@GovRonDeSantis announced this morning he will lower flags in the state in honor of Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio host who died earlier this week.https://t.co/RCQKnFMomd pic.twitter.com/LQtewzlFqr
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) February 19, 2021
The governor made the announcement during an event to announce election reforms he would support. He kicked off the event by honoring Limbaugh.
“There’s not much that needs to be said, the guy was an absolute legend,” DeSantis said. “He was a friend of mine and just a great person.”
In a statement shortly after Limbaugh’s death, DeSantis praised him as the greatest of all time “of radio, of conservative media and of inspiring a loyal army of American patriots.”
.@FLCaseyDeSantis and I are saddened to learn of the passing of fellow Floridian and our friend, Rush Limbaugh. My statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/L4GuZZNhfy
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 17, 2021
Earlier this week, Republican Florida State Representative Anthony Sabatini sent a letter asking for DeSantis to bestow the honor to “a great Floridian.”
“Mr. Limbaugh was a champion of the constitution, civic engagement, and a true American patriot,” Sabatini wrote.
Today I sent a letter to Governor DeSantis requesting the lowering of Florida’s flags to half-staff in honor of the passing of a great Floridian—Rush Limbaugh.
Rush was a relentless champion of America and of civic engagement. May his memory live on forever. pic.twitter.com/5vXHbo9mDz
— Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) February 17, 2021
During an appearance Wednesday on Fox News, Trump called the late radio host a “great man.”
“The Rush Limbaugh Show” had more than 15 million listeners at its peak, an audience size that added to Limbaugh’s political influence.