Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis marked the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Monday by calling attention to the renewed threat from Biden’s unsecured southern border.
The candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination highlighted the danger posed by millions of unvetted illegals being allowed into the country. “I think that there is a good bet that somebody that’s come across that border will commit an act of terrorism.”
DeSantis told the Washington Examiner that the White House’s open border policies render the U.S. “more vulnerable to a terrorist attack.”
For @RonDeSantis, serving his country was the answer to 9/11.
"You put service above self…I felt it was my obligation to serve. So I raised my hand." https://t.co/4fYrqSFZ5R
— Carly Atchison (@CarlyAtch) September 11, 2023
No longer are illegal migrants simply flooding in from Mexico and Central America. The governor noted that they now originate from the most far-flung parts of the globe.
DeSantis correctly observed that the 2001 attacks were partially brought on by a failure to control immigration. “9/11 was in part an immigration issue. A lot of these guys should not have been in the country — had overstayed visas and whatnot.”
The most deadly terror attack on U.S. soil claimed 2,977 lives.
Ron and Casey DeSantis mourned at the 9/11 memorial site at the invitation of multiple victim’s families. The Florida governor recalled the day’s horrific events inspired him to lead a life of service.
That was the reason, DeSantis said, that he turned away from a career in the private sector. Instead, “I raised my hand.” He earned a Navy commission as a JAG officer in 2004 and went on to work in operations at the Guantanamo Bay facility housing terror suspects.
DeSantis later served in Iraq as an adviser to a Navy SEAL commander and was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal.
The governor and his wife Casey did not announce their plans to attend the 9/11 memorial but were observed mingling with families at the event.
Many expected the conservative Florida governor to make waves when he entered the 2024 Republican presidential race, but if anything he is losing ground.
Former President Donald Trump is lapping the field, and DeSantis has seen his support slip while others jockey for second place in the GOP primary race. Multiple polls show the governor trailing Trump by over 40 percentage points in the race for the nomination.
