DeSantis: Biden should focus on the southern border and not going to Ukraine

Ron DeSantis tore into Joe Biden for visiting Ukraine on the anniversary of Russia invading instead of focusing on securing the southern border from what some have classified as an 'invasion' there.

President Biden made an unannounced, surprise trip to Kyiv on Monday to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the war persists.

Meanwhile, DeSantis was traveling the northeast United States on Monday for a Law and Order Tour touting hard-on-crime policies and support for law enforcement as he presented his 'blueprint for keeping communities safe.'

Part of the Florida governor's plan to keep the country safe includes a new law he signed this month that will expand a program where the state sends illegal migrants to Democratic enclaves like New York City and Washington, D.C.

'I think while he's over there, I think I and many Americans are thinking to ourselves, OK, he's very concerned about those borders halfway around the world,' DeSantis said. 

He also claimed that the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan earlier in his presidency, along with a series of other 'weak' national security moves, gave the signal to the international community that they could get away with more with Biden at the White House helm. 

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Fox & Friends on Monday morning that Joe Biden's 'weak' leadership led to Russia's invasion into Ukraine and slammed the president for visiting Kyiv rather than focusing on securing the southern border

Biden made an unannounced five-hour trip to Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday to mark the one-year anniversary since Russia invaded the Eastern European country. Pictured: Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his surprise visit to Kyiv on Monday

'I think while he's over there, I think I and many Americans are thinking to ourselves, OK, he's very concerned about those borders halfway around the world,' DeSantis said, referencing the prevailing southern border crisis. Pictured: Migrants wait to processes by border agents after crossing into Yuma, Arizona on January 6

'He's not done anything to secure our own border here at home,' the governor lamented.

'We've had millions and millions of people pour in, tens of thousands of Americans dead because of fentanyl, and then, of course, we just suffered a national humiliation of having China fly a spy balloon clear across the continental United States,' DeSantis said. 'So, we have a lot of problems accumulating here in our own country that he is neglecting.'

He also slammed the president for essentially writing 'a blank check' to Ukraine with 'no clear strategic objective identified' in supplying this aid.

Biden announced during his more than five-hours on the ground in Kyiv an additional $500 million in U.S. assistance to the warn-torn nation.

This comes after the U.S. has already pumped through more than $50 billion to aid Ukraine in its defensive efforts against Russia.

DeSantis took his 'anti-woke' message on the road with a single-day three-city tour on law and order.

It started with a breakfast with law enforcement in Staten Island Monday morning followed by a rally across the street with the men and women in blue and supporters of DeSantis' potential run for the White House.

The governor delivered remarks at Privé catering hall on the South Shore of Staten Island and accused lawmakers in New York and other Democratic enclaves of trying to 'out-woke' each other with policies that have led to a spike in crime and breakdown of law enforcement power.

The Florida governor's swing through the northeast is fueling speculation that he is inching closer to announcing a bid for president in 2024. His one-day trip will also feature stops in Philadelphia and Chicago. 

The visit coincides with the President's Day holiday and comes as former President Donald Trump continues to launch attacks against DeSantis, who is quickly emerging as the most likely to be able to take down the former president in a primary.

Some local reporters say DeSantis should expect to be met with protesters who are particularly peeved at the governor's plan to send migrants to Democratic bastions like New York and other northeast cities.

DeSantis, meanwhile, kicked off his multi-city 'Law and Order' tour with a stop in Staten Island, New York on Monday, February 20, 2023 

Following a breakfast with law enforcement, DeSantis spoke to a room full of supporters at the Privé catering hall in the South Shore of Staten Island – the most conservative borough of New York City 

Supporters of DeSantis gather outside Privé catering hall in Staten Island on the President's Day holiday as the Florida governor spoke with law enforcement about his 'blueprint for keeping communities safe'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that he could 'teach' DeSantis about 'values' during his visit to the Big Apple.

'Welcome to NYC, Gov. Ron DeSantis,' Adam wrote in a tweet, 'a place where we don't ban books, discriminate against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, use asylum seekers as props, or let the government stand between a woman and health care.'

'We're happy to teach you something about values while you're here,' the Democratic mayor added.

Ahead of the rally, DeSantis had breakfast with law enforcement at Annadale Terrace diner across the street from the location for his remarks.

A spokesperson for DeSantis said that the governor went to the diner and Privé catering hall Monday morning to meet cops and other law enforcement officers where they are and usually frequent. 

DeSantis began his remarks by claiming that leaders in cities like New York are putting policy above safety.

'The reason why you have what you have in some of these other jurisdictions, is because they're putting woke ideology ahead of your safety – as New Yorkers, as people from Illinois or wherever you have this type of policy taking place,' DeSantis said.

He also accused Democratic politicians of trying to 'out-woke one another' in order to win a primary in left-leaning enclaves like New York and going on to win primaries because of the extreme political imbalance in these areas. 

He also repeated at the conclusion of his speech a line he used during his inauguration remarks last month, claiming that Florida 'is where woke goes to die.' 

Staten Island is New York's most red borough and the only one that voted for Trump both in 2016 and 2020. In the 2020 election, 57 percent of Staten Island cast their ballot for Trump's reelection.

The trip on Monday put to the test DeSantis' chances among some of Trump's strongest backers in his former home city.

It appears that a few hundred people showed up for the event, and the room was filled with enthusiasm for DeSantis. Some cheered when DeSantis asked if they plan to move to Florida. 

DeSantis was introduced by former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), who retired from the House to run for the Executive Mansion in Albany against Governor Kathy Hochul. 

Despite losing, Zeldin did receive the highest percentage of the vote for a Republican gubernatorial nominee since 2002 – and the highest raw vote total for a Republican gubernatorial nominee since 1970.

Much of his strides in the race in the deep blue state was attributed to his focus on returning to New York law and order ideals from years past.

DeSantis' President's Day speech kicks off his multi-city tour about his pro-cop, law and order style of governing – touting that it has led to a 50-year low crime rate in Florida.

He said that policies in Florida help with this mission. This includes, DeSantis said, 'backing the blue' with funds and morale. 

'You know, the frustrating thing is you'll have these people running for like district attorney or this stuff, and they're in the Democrat primary, and they're all running to be left of the left,' DeSantis said of elections in blue states. 'But then whoever wins the primary wins the general because you have so many such an imbalance.'

'So, it creates this race to try to 'out-woke' one another,' he alleged. 'And that ends up creating these disastrous policies.'

Former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), who lost his bid for governor in the 2022 midterms, introduced DeSantis for his remarks at Privé on President's Day, February 20, 2023

A fact sheet on the tour notes that the governor's remarks are aimed at 'sharing Florida's blueprint for keeping communities safe and offer support as blue cities turn their backs on the law enforcement community.'

DeSantis has remained relatively quiet on the presidential ambitions front, saying at a press conference this month 'wouldn't you like to know?' when a reporter asked if he would enter the running now that former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced her bid. 

Republican member of the New York City Council Joe Borelli speculated the trip is a 'sign' that DeSantis is entering the race – even suggesting he could announce his bid.

'Staten Island was the HQ of the GOP's first presidential campaign in 1856 for John Fremont. Maybe it's a sign,' Borelli wrote. Fremont did not go on to become president.

Trump has relentlessly attacked DeSantis by sending nearly daily insults toward the Florida governor before he has even announced a presidential run.

The latest came late Sunday when Trump posted about a new poll showing support waning for DeSantis in a head-to-head with the former president and utilizing his often-used moniker for the governor – 'DeSanctimonious'. 

Supporters flanked DeSantis after his remarks, trying to snap an image of the Florida governor and potential 2024 presidential candidate

The tour is fueling the speculation that DeSantis will soon launch a presidential GOP primary bid against former President Donald Trump in 2024

'Of course it [support] cools,' Trump said. 'He wants to cut Social Security and Medicare, loves 'Throw them over the cliff' Paul Ryan, who is destroying FoxNews (sic) and the WSJ, Piglet Karl Rove, and 'Jeb.' Also, Ron DeSanctimonious is for Globalist Club For NO Growth, and Open Borders Charles Koch. We want AMERICA FIRST, NOT AMERICA LAST!!!'

Just before midnight on Saturday, the former president also accused DeSantis of being a 'RINO in disguise.'

That post on Trump's social media website Truth Social came nearly 24 hours after he promised not to fat shame DeSantis following reports that he privately referred to the GOP governor as 'Meatball Ron.'

The flood gates opened against DeSantis when Trump hit the campaign trail late last month. He told reporters on his plane between events in New Hampshire and South Carolina that it would be very 'disloyal' if DeSantis launched a 2024 primary bid against him.

DeSantis earned his first term as Florida governor by partially riding on the coattails of Trump's endorsement in 2018.

Trump now lives in DeSantis' state full-time at his residence at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

So far, Trump and his former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley are the only two major Republicans to launch an official bid for the White House in 2024. But at least a few dozen others are considering or rumored to be weighing a run, including former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan.