In an interview on Fox News, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis chided Democrats and the media for their continued focus on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, referring to it as a "bloody shirt" being waved to "impugn" Americans. This marks the first time DeSantis has used the term associated with the political battles following the Civil War.

DeSantis has faced numerous questions about the Jan. 6 incident from both the media and voters during his campaign stops in Florida. While he has referred to the attack as a "riot," this is the first time he has explicitly criticized the ongoing use of the event for political purposes.

The Florida Governor went on to criticize President Joe Biden for his emphasis on Jan. 6, stating that Biden had the opportunity to be a unifier for the nation, but has failed in this regard. DeSantis further argued that it was time to move on and focus on the pressing issues of the American people, suggesting that Jan. 6 is not a top concern for voters.

The term "wave the bloody shirt" historically refers to the rhetoric used in the late 19th century by politicians, primarily Republicans, who invoked the losses of the Civil War during their campaigns. DeSantis invoked this term as a critique of Democrats and their handling of the Jan. 6 investigation.

While DeSantis initially condemned the Jan. 6 riots, he has since accused Democrats and the congressional committee investigating the attacks of smearing Trump supporters. On the first anniversary of the riots, he refused to label them as an "insurrection" due to the lack of specific charges filed under that definition.

Now, two years later, DeSantis finds himself compelled to address the issue once again, as two states have blocked former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot, citing a clause in the 14th Amendment regarding those who "engaged in insurrection." The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review whether these states have the power to disqualify Trump, with DeSantis predicting that the court will rule against Colorado and Maine.

DeSantis believes that disqualifying someone from the ballot without a conviction violates due process rights, not just for Trump but for any individual. He argues that this approach opens up a Pandora's box of potential consequences.

Although DeSantis is challenging Trump for the GOP nomination, he has struggled to gain traction and views the upcoming Iowa primary as crucial to his campaign.

While DeSantis maintains his critical stance on the Jan. 6 riots, Trump, in contrast, brought up the attacks during a recent rally in Sioux City, suggesting the involvement of Antifa and the FBI and characterizing those imprisoned for their roles as "hostages."

The continued debate surrounding Jan. 6 and its political implications remains a topic of contention as the country moves forward.