DeSantis warns of the consequences of another GOP White House loss

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned of the treachery Democrats have up their sleeves if they’re able to keep the White House and Senate and recapture the House in 2024. 

While DeSantis has yet to jump into the presidential race, he’s been going through the motions – including hobnobbing Friday with the D.C. crowd at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th anniversary celebration on Friday.

In that venue, he talked about the national repercussions Republicans would face if they don’t mount a successful challenge to President Joe Biden. 

‘The left is playing for keeps,’ DeSantis said. ‘If you look at what happens in 2024, if the Democrats are able to sweep all the offices – president, Senate and House – what will they do with that power? They will try to pack the U.S. Supreme Court, they will try to abolish the Electoral College.’ 

‘They will try to make Washington, D.C. a state so they can get two left-wing senators virtually for life,’ he continued. ‘And they will try to eliminate voter ID across the country and mandate ballot harvesting.’ 

He didn’t openly talk about his presidential ambitions – and wasn’t asked about a potential run by the moderator, who instead asked: ‘should everyone wear cowboy boots with suits?’ 

DeSantis answered in the affirmative – and was wearing them. 

But he did play up the success he’s had in formerly purple Florida – turning it into a conservative red state. 

DeSantis mentioned the controversial abortion ban he recently signed. 

It bans abortions after six weeks, which effectively outlaws the procedure as most women don’t know they are pregnant at that point.

It gave Florida one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation. 

DeSantis hadn’t mentioned it in his previous appearances before conservatives, including a speech he gave to the conservative Baptist Liberty University.

But he mentioned it in passing on Friday and was greeted with applause.

‘We recently signed the heartbeat bill to protect life,’ he said before going on to talk about another law he signed allowing Florida residents to carry guns without a state permit.

DeSantis reiterated his call to build a wall on the southern border, invoking President Biden by name as the Florida governor bragged he’d be able to get it done.

‘I think to ultimately solve the problem of illegal immigration in the border you need a lot of things. But you do need to actually construct a wall along the southern border. Walls are resources that can be used efficiently and what I’ve told the President Biden is: you know I’ve got some know how.’

He went on to describe the Pine Island Bridge that Hurricane Ian wiped out when it swept through Florida, causing billions in damages and killing 120 people.

DeSantis claimed he cut all the red tape and had the bridge reopened in two weeks.

He noted he mentioned that story because ‘I’m willing to send those guys in Florida to the southern border to build a wall.’

‘Come on Joe,’ he added to great applause from the crowd.

After the event, DeSantis stayed for about 10 minutes, taking selfies, shaking hands and making small talk with the crowd. 

Security had to put up a rope line to hold back the crowd that rushed the stage to see the governor. 

When one participant mentioned he was from London and excited to see him, DeSantis, who’s been accused of being unwilling to do small talk, stopped to chat with him about the city and mentioned the trade mission he was going on to the UK next week.

The Heritage Foundation said 1,070 people were in the crowd to see ‘America’s governor,’ as DeSantis was introduced.