Even before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped foot on Staten Island on Monday, his visit created some controversy.

Mayor Eric Adams sent him this welcome message on Twitter:

“Welcome to NYC,” Adams wrote, “a place where we don’t ban books, discriminate against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, use asylum seekers as props, or let the government stand between a woman and health care. We’re happy to teach you something about values while you’re here.”

What You Need To Know

  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed law enforcement members on Staten Island Monday

  • He criticized "woke ideology" in left-leaning cities

  • Mayor Eric Adams criticized the governor on Twitter and in interviews

Desantis responded during a Fox News appearance Monday.

“When you’re out there setting the agenda, not just for Florida, but really for the nation which we’ve done over the last few years, people see that and people who don’t necessarily like that are going to respond accordingly,” the Florida Republican said.

DeSantis, who is widely seen as a potential GOP candidate for president in 2024, remained undeterred, spending his time on Staten island addressing law enforcement.

“The reason you have what you have here and, in some of these other jurisdictions, is they are putting woke ideology ahead of your safety as New Yorkers or people from Illinois or wherever you have this type of policy taking place,” he told the Staten Island crowd.

On Tuesday, Adams did not appear to take issue with the Florida governor’s pro law enforcement message.

“All of us believe that we should have the right to safety,” the mayor said. “And I support that and I am happy to know he supports that as well. But you have to back that up and not support the over proliferation of guns in our country.”

DeSantis criticized woke Democrats in his speech -- Adams had similar rhetoric earlier this month.

Nonetheless, on Tuesday Adams said he and DeSantis are ideologically different.

“There is a qualitative difference from what we believe here, our governor, and what he believes,” the mayor said. “We don’t believe in treating people differently if they are a part of the LGBTQ+ community.”