MIAMI.- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took advantage of his participation in the Republican National Convention (RNC) to attack the alleged security failures that led to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump and demanded a thorough investigation to determine responsibility.
“America cannot afford four more years of a ‘Weekend at Bernie’ presidency,” DeSantis said, referring to Trump’s life-threatening episode in Pennsylvania.
“Our nation’s bureaucratic class is never held accountable for their mistakes,” DeSantis also wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “The biggest agency security failure of this century and no one will be fired or resign?”
His comments refer to Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle’s refusal to resign following lapses in protecting Trump. Cheatle admitted that it was “unacceptable” and “should not happen again,” but showed no intention of resigning from her post.
DeSantis, who has been a consistent critic of the Biden administration, used the occasion to accuse the president of being a “figurehead” pushing a leftist agenda.
“Our enemies don’t limit their plans to the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. We need a commander in chief who can lead 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” DeSantis said Tuesday.
The Florida governor compared Trump’s record to Biden’s, highlighting the “booming economy,” “secure border” and “low inflation” that he said characterized Trump’s tenure.
Other Republicans, including Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, joined in the criticism of Biden and praised Trump’s achievements.
Rubio, who was Trump’s rival in 2016 and whose name was mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate for the former president in 2024, called for unity: “We must rise up and fight, not with violence or destruction, but with our voices and votes.”
DeSantis’ speech, which focused on former President Trump’s safety, marked a key moment at the RNC, where the battle for the presidency was shaped as a choice between two contrasting visions of America.
DeSantis, who has been seen as a potential successor to Trump, cast himself as a defender of Trump’s vision and a leader capable of taking on the “left-wing agenda” that he says has dominated the Biden administration.
