Ron DeSantis interrupted by 3 climate change protesters in Iowa Caucus campaign stop

AMES, Iowa — Anti-fossil fuel protesters interrupted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis three times Thursday during a presidential campaign event in Ames.

All three protesters were quickly escorted out of the event at Jethro’s BBQ, though one of them managed to get on stage next to DeSantis and unfurl a protest flag before being tackled by security staff.

The protester said “Ron DeSantis is a climate criminal,” and all three criticized DeSantis for what they said were DeSantis’ connections to the fossil fuel industry.

More: Everything you need to know about the Iowa caucuses ahead of the 2024 presidential race

In his campaign, DeSantis has said he wants to expand drilling for fossil fuels. The presidential candidate criticized the first heckler as he was escorted out: “He wants you to pay more for gas, more for energy. He wants rolling blackouts in this country.”

DeSantis also said of the protester who made it to the stage: “If you're gonna do that, like he was like stumbling around to get his flag out. Like he telegraphed that a mile away."

“This is (what’s) wrong with the college system right there,” said DeSantis in an apparent reference to the age of the protesters and Ames as the home to Iowa State University. It wasn't clear whether the protestors were students.

Later Thursday, political action organization Sunrise Movement said the protesters were its members, including a 19-year-old who got on stage.

“Republican candidates and President Biden are bought and owned by oil and gas millionaires,” Sunrise Executive Director Aru Shiney-Ajay said in a statement. “Biden is overseeing more oil and gas production than at any time in US history while Trump and Haley take check after check from the fossil fuel industry. Young people deserve leaders who will fight for clean air and drinkable water. Whether it’s DeSantis, Biden, or Trump, no politician is safe.”

DeSantis is on a whirlwind tour of Iowa in the final push to the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 15; the event in Ames was his fourth of the day.

DeSantis continued on with his remarks before taking several questions about his policy positions.

“We take questions from folks all the time," DeSantis said later to reporters. "Yeah, I’m not going to let these, these numbnuts rush the stage or do anything like that, but I mean people that ask, you know, normal, respectful questions, we’re happy to do.”

Campaign events have been infrequently disrupted as DeSantis has crisscrossed Iowa, with some exceptions.

Protesters with a similar message to the ones in Ames — “no oil money” — interrupted DeSantis on Tuesday during a Fox News town hall. They were escorted out.

DeSantis also encountered protesters on both sides of the aisle at the Iowa State Fair in August. During a one-on-one chat with Gov. Kim Reynolds, liberal protesters blew whistles, drowning out the two talking until they were removed. Supporters of former President Donald Trump chanted things like "We love Trump!” when DeSantis was nearby.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Phillip Sitter is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at psitter@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: DeSantis interrupted by climate change protesters in Iowa Caucus stop