Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has castigated Australia's response to COVID, warning that the country has gone “dramatically off the rails” and likened it to communist China.
Mr DeSantis questioned whether the United States should maintain its current level of diplomatic relationship with Canberra.
Unlike some American states, Florida has taken a relatively hands off approach to combating COVID.
Governor DeSantis, a rising star of the Republican Party, has made most COVID-19 restrictions illegal in May 2021.
He banned vaccine mandates for workers and is against mandatory mask wearing.
Speaking at the International Boat Builders’ Exhibition and Conference in Tampa, he warned that Australia has gone too far when it comes to restricting freedoms as it battles an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant in its eastern states.
"Look what’s going on in Australia right now. You know, they’re enforcing, after a year and a half, they’re still enforcing lockdowns by the military," Governor DeSantis warned.
"That’s not a free country. It’s not a free country at all. In fact, I mean, I wonder why we would still have the same diplomatic relations when they’re doing that.
"Is Australia freer than China, communist China, right now? I don’t know. The fact that that’s even a question tells you something has gone dramatically off the rails with some of this stuff."
Only just over 1,250 Australians have died from COVID, compared to more than 54,000 Floridians.
Florida averages 350 deaths per day in a state of 22 million people.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended Australia's response to COVID, arguing "cultural differences" were behind the different approaches.
“I think we are different societies. I mean, we‘re great friends and we share beliefs and values that we hold dear … but in Australia, when it comes to public health, we’re a very pragmatic nation," Mr Morrison told US network CBS.
"And I can tell you, the virus doesn’t care what you believe. The virus cares about how it can come and take your life."
