Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) defended his handling of crime in Florida at the 2024 GOP presidential debate on Wednesday.

The Florida governor was asked to weigh in during a dispute about how candidates would handle the rising crime rates if president. He responded by noting how he had suspended prosecutors linked to billionaire Democratic donor George Soros for not enforcing certain laws.

UP FOR DEBATE: WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND REST OF REPUBLICAN 2024 FIELD STAND ON KEY ISSUES

He was also pressed on the rising crime rates in Miami.

"Crime is at a 50-year low, we’re happy with that, statewide it’s at a 50-year low," DeSantis said. "These hollowed-out cities, this is a symptom of America’s decline. And one of the biggest reasons is because you have George Soros funding these radical left-wing district attorneys. They get into office and they say they’re not going to prosecute crimes they disagree with. The inmates start running the asylum.

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"When we had two of these district attorneys in Florida, elected with Soros funding, who said they wouldn’t do their job, I removed them from their posts. They are done," he added.

"As president," he continued, "we are going to go after all of these people because they are hurting the quality of life and they are victimizing innocent people in this country, and it will stop when I get into office."