Presidential candidate Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is looking to leverage his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida as cases begin rising again nationally, leading to proposals of mask-wearing and other precautions.

Florida was one of the first states to reopen after initially restricting business and activity when the COVID-19 pandemic began. In September 2020, the state lifted restrictions on restaurants and businesses, also banning fines for not wearing masks. As the pandemic subsided, Florida and other states that curbed restrictions early on were seen as good examples and praised by people on the right for keeping children in school and preventing further economic harm.

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Now, as the subject appears to be rearing its head once more, DeSantis is pointing to his record on COVID-19 to gain support in the 2024 race.

"As Biden's biomedical state is chomping at the bit to bring back COVID authoritarianism, we will continue to hold the line," he posted on X on Wednesday. "As your President, I will usher in a reckoning for those who devised the failed and destructive biomedical policies that caused damage throughout our country, because until there is accountability they will try to do it again."

In a video attached to the post, footage of DeSantis reminds viewers that "Florida was a refuge of sanity" during the pandemic.

"Mandates, lockdowns, fines — we're just not doing that. They are not effective," he said in footage from during the height of lockdowns across the country.

Throughout the video, cut between clips of DeSantis speaking, are complimentary TV hosts and pundits praising the Florida governor for his policies. "If the rest of the country had done everything that Ron DeSantis said and did in Florida, we'd be in a much better place," one commentator said.

Fox News's Jesse Watters is also featured, saying, "When Ron DeSantis decided to think for himself and use common sense, the experts said he was a murderer. Wrong again. Turns out Florida handled COVID the best."

First lady Jill Biden tested positive earlier this week for COVID-19, bringing renewed interest to the subject. Because of her diagnosis, President Joe Biden is wearing a mask indoors to prevent possible spread, though he hasn't tested positive.

Regarding the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases, former White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci said, “I am concerned that people will not abide by recommendations.”

“I would hope that if we get to the point that the volume of cases is such and organizations like the CDC recommends, CDC does not mandate anything, recommends that people wear masks, I would hope that people abide by that recommendation and take into account the risks to themselves and their families," he added.

Fauci became increasingly unpopular during the pandemic, especially among Republicans. The former medical official lost a significant amount of trust from the public between December 2020 and April 2022. The FDA and CDC each lost trust as well, but not as much as Fauci.

At the start of the pandemic, Fauci was trusted and revered, with a 78% approval rating. But three years later, as the effects of COVID-19 mandates have become apparent, his popularity with and trust from the public has declined.

In a veiled shot at Trump, who worked with Fauci during the pandemic, DeSantis says in the video, "You don't take someone like Fauci and coddle him. You bring Fauci, and you sit him down, and you say, 'Anthony, you are fired.'"

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"Lockdown Ron should look in the mirror and answer for closing down Florida business that didn’t practice social distancing while fighting to keep abortion clinics open. He also refused to fire Florida's Fauci," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung told the Washington Examiner in a statement.

The issue of COVID-19 mandates and handling hasn't been brought up often on the campaign trail and hasn't been a current concern. But now, DeSantis appears to be looking to tout his record against Trump's. According to one political scientist, this is a topic Trump will likely want to avoid during the primary campaign.