Tallahassee, Florida
CNN
—
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday, pledging to make Florida a beacon of freedom while making the state a “promised land of sanity,” he said in the past. trumpeted his achievements for four years. Whole country.
“We are proud to be citizens of the great free state of Florida,” DeSantis concluded his 15-minute speech from the steps of the Tallahassee State Capitol.
The speech laid out as broad a national address as it created the blueprint for his second term as governor of Florida. DeSantis did not explicitly mention his national ambitions, including a possible run for the 2024 Republican presidential election, but his words contained clear themes of the upcoming political struggle. It was
“We reject this awakened ideology. We seek normalcy, not philosophical madness,” said DeSantis. “Never surrender to a mob that wakes up. Florida is a place where the one who wakes up dies.”
The strength of DeSantis’ reelection win in November (the widest margin in the Florida governor’s race in 40 years) has made him a guiding force for a year of missed opportunities and disappointments for Republicans. And he, at 44, remains one of the party’s youngest future White House strongmen, with his two campaigns unfolding in Tallahassee under the slogan “Free Florida.” His national ambitions are fully demonstrated at the day’s inaugural celebrations.
Host a candlelight cocktail hour and dinner on Monday, host an inaugural ball on Tuesday, and receive special access to the governor and a charity for donors who donate between $50,000 and $1 million to the Florida Republican Party. The aide said he would be given VIP treatment. After the swearing-in ceremony, First Lady Casey DeSantis will lead a “Cheers to a Million Moms” honoring the women who have worked and volunteered for the campaign.
While the inauguration will mean more than a typical second-term swearing-in ceremony, DeSantis’ senior aide told CNN that the governor hasn’t made firm decisions about his future, and that the 2024 campaign won’t last long. He said he was in no hurry to jump into the
“He’s focused on his second term. No announcements of any kind are expected until the Florida legislature closes in May.
The cross-state rivalry with former President Donald Trump hinges on every move DeSantis makes. Their relationship dates back to the 2018 gubernatorial primary. This time, with Mr. Trump’s endorsement, a little-known congressman leapfrogged early frontrunner Adam Putnam (then state agriculture commissioner) to win the nomination. A viral ad featuring DeSantis and his family, including two young children, emphasized his loyalty to Trump.
But in recent months, the pair have become increasingly feuded as talk of 2024 swirls. Before and after the midterm elections, Trump mocked DeSantis as an “average governor” and mocked him with the nickname “Ron DeSanctimonias.”
DeSantis has tried to downplay Trump’s criticism, describing the comments as “just noise.”
