Florida Governor and presidential nominee Ron DeSantis (R-FL) spoke at a press conference regarding Florida's higher education policy, but his comments concerning China and political opponents stole the show at the tail end of the event.
Gov. DeSantis was questioned about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their aggressive foreign policy due to a “weak” President Joe Biden (D).
“I think it’s just humiliating this is for the country. They flew a spy balloon clear across the continental United States with basically no pushback. Our people knew this balloon was coming, and yeah they finally shot it after it had already gotten all the data that it needed and was already off the east coast,” stated Gov. DeSantis. “Is that a strong country to just allow that to happen?”
He would go on to comment about the recent developments of a Chinese intelligence base being set up in Cuba, less than 100 miles from Key West shores.
“The fact that China is potentially setting up eavesdropping military outposts in Cuba 90 miles from [the] southern Florida Keys, that is a slap in the face to this country. They do not fear Biden. They realize he’s weak, and so they’re taking advantage of the weakness and I think what the CCP understands is, they understand the language of strength.”
Gov. DeSantis also spoke on the amount of influence that the Chinese government maintains in the United States – and the West as a whole.
“They continue to have an inordinate impact on our lives here in America with how much our economy is now dependent on things made in China. You can’t even get the ammunition we would need for a war unless you get stuff from China. You can’t even refurbish our own nuclear arsenal unless you get stuff from China,” DeSantis said.
Once the Florida Governor finished his remarks regarding China, he was then asked if he will “100% support” former President Trump (R) as the Republican nominee should he win it for a third time. DeSantis did not give a clear answer.
“So, what I would say is this: When you are saying that [former Governor Cuomo, D-NY] did better on COVID than Florida did, you are revealing yourself to just be full of it. Nobody believes that. And you know why? I know that because I remember in 2020 and 2021 when he was praising Florida for being open, saying we did it much better than New York and Michigan and everyone was coming to Florida, and that we were one of the great governors in the United States,” asserted DeSantis. “Now all of a sudden, his tune is changing. And I would just tell people, do you find it credible? Do you honestly find it credible?”
DeSantis and Trump will face off (if they both decide to attend) in the first Republican primary debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23.