Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted President Joe Biden at a press conference on Wednesday for his reluctance to take a more in-depth approach to address both the pandemic as it relates to the southern border crisis. The governor’s criticism comes exactly one day after Biden singled out Florida and Texas for allegedly having the highest COVID-19 cases in the country.
DeSantis believes that instead of criticizing Florida, the Biden Administration should acknowledge the fact that coronavirus cases are higher in border cities because migrants who are carrying the virus, as well as new variants from other parts of the world, are crossing our porous border.
“Joe Biden has taken to himself to try to single out Florida over COVID — this is a guy that ran for President saying that he was going to [quote] shut down the virus, and what has he done? He’s imported more virus from around the world by having a wide open southern border,” DeSantis stated.
DeSantis railed in response to Biden’s assertion that if states do not want to cooperate with stricter mandates, such as requiring that citizens and their children be masked indoors against their will, then they should “get out of the way.”
“He wants to have the government force kindergarteners to wear masks in school. He doesn’t believe the parents should have a say in that, he thinks that should be a decision for the government,” the governor stated. “I can tell you in Florida, the parents are going to be the ones in charge of that decision.”
“Joe Biden suggests that if you don’t do lockdown policies then you should ‘get out of the way.’ But let me tell you this, if you’re coming after the rights of parents in Florida, I’m standing in your way,” DeSantis said.
“If you’re trying to deny kids a proper in-person education, I’m gonna stand in your way…If you’re trying to restrict people, impose mandates, ruin their jobs…If you try to lock people down, I am standing in your way,” he continued. “I’m not going to let you get away with it.”
DeSantis also criticized the Biden Administration over the left’s ongoing “hypocrisy” about mandating vaccine passports while opposing stronger voter ID measures that would reduce the potential for electoral irregularities in future elections.
“Joe Biden also believes that vaccinations should be mandated by force of government and that you should have to show vaccination status to be able to participate in society,” DeSantis asserted. “He wants that, but yet if you want to vote, he thinks it’s too much of a burden to show a picture I.D. when you’re voting. So no voter I.D., but have to show your medical papers just to be able to live an every day life? Give me a break.”
The Florida governor continued highlighting Biden’s policy contradictions and telling Biden to focus on matters that affect the nation as a whole, such as the lack of resources strengthening the southern border, rather than focusing on states’ rights to govern themselves as they see fit.
“Why don’t you do your job? Why don’t you get this border secure? And until you do that, I don’t wanna hear a blip about COVID from you,” DeSantis said, slamming Biden.
Although Florida and Texas reportedly have some of the highest COVID-19 cases in the country, they remain at the bottom of the list when it comes to overall death rates per capita in the nation. According to Statista, Florida is ranked #26, with Texas ranked #25. Whereas, the highest three include New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, where lawmakers have implemented some of the most restrictive coronavirus mandates.
DeSantis has stated he does not plan to re-lockdown or implement any new guidelines or mandates regarding COVID-19, even as pressure from the federal government increases.
