Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) spoke at the Republican National Convention (RNC) on the impact former President Donald Trump (R) would have on the military should he return to the position of Commander-in-Chief after the November general election. The Army veteran first started by thanking his fellow service members.
“Now, I've got to start with a salute to every warrior standing guard around the globe - on an aircraft carrier, in a foxhole, on a base somewhere, in this audience, or just watching at home. We love you, veterans. We love ‘em. We love ‘em,” said Rep. Mast. “I too am an Army veteran, a husband, and a father of four. I lost two legs and a finger in the war in Afghanistan, but nothing could stop me from standing alongside Donald Trump and fighting for America. Every one of you American service members and every veteran knows the dangers when we join the Armed Forces, but we risk our lives because we believe in America.”
With President Joe Biden (D) currently weighing his options on whether he should drop out of the race just a few months before the election, Rep. Mast took a jab at both President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris (D) for their record with the military.
“As President, Donald Trump rebuilt our military, deterred our enemies, and he made America strong again. Now, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have once again weakened our Armed Forces, and through inflation, slashed the size of our military budget, just like they slashed the family budget. And, at the same time, they’ve distracted our troops with millions of hours of so-called ‘extremism training’ and they base promotions on adherence to left-wing political ideology, rather than merit. They would rather lose a war than use the wrong pronouns. And we’ve had enough.
“Donald Trump knows that our military needs warriors and not woke weaklings lecturing our warriors. Biden and Harris’s weakness invites aggression, and our enemies are on the march: Russia invaded Ukraine, Hamas attacked Israel, Iran is funding terror across the Middle East, and the Chinese Communist Party has Taiwan in their crosshairs,” said Rep. Mast.
Finally, Rep. Mast stated that neither President Biden nor VP Harris “deserves to be saluted” as the Commander-in-Chief.
“And, with his botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, Biden delivered what President Trump rightly called “the most embarrassing day” in American history. And, what’s worse, is that Joe Biden doesn’t even remember that it cost the lives of 13 American heroes. But, when their coffins arrived at Dover, he did remember to check his watch, didn’t he? Nearly 2,500 of my brothers and sisters gave their lives in that war. Joe Biden disgraced their sacrifice and the sacrifice of all Afghanistan veterans. Kamala Harris stood with him when he did. Neither deserves to be saluted as Commander-in-Chief or to sit in the Oval Office.
“American veterans and American service members deserve better. America deserves better. And, with Donald Trump you know that we don’t just get better, we get THE BEST. Donald Trump restored American strength before. Donald Trump will restore American strength again. And, with your vote, we won’t just make America strong again, we will make America stronger than it’s ever been! May God bless you, God bless our troops, and God bless the United States of America,” concluded the Florida congressman.
Brian Mast represents Florida’s 21st Congressional District.
