Defiant DeSantis slams Biden administration amid report on travel limits

TALLAHASSEE – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the Biden administration on Thursday, promising the state would firmly and swiftly oppose any attempt to prevent Americans from visiting the Sunshine State.

DeSantis’ comments were in response to a Wednesday article by McClatchy that quoted an anonymous White House official as saying that the administration was considering placing restrictions on domestic travel, including to Florida, to stem the transmission of a new variant of Covid-19 that is spreading rapidly in the state.

DeSantis, a Republican, called the consideration of travel restrictions “absurd” and “a political attack on the people of Florida.” He said it would be “ridiculous” to impose restrictions on domestic travel while relaxing restrictions on the US-Mexico border.

“Any attempt to restrict or lock down Florida by the federal government would be an attack on our state, made only for political ends,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Port Charlotte, Florida. also questioned the need for any kind of restrictions given Florida’s intermediate ranking in terms of Covid-19 deaths.

The governor also added: “I think it would be unconstitutional, it would be reckless and it would be unfair.”

DeSantis’ The office declined to comment immediately after the press conference whether they had had any discussions with members of the Biden administration about the potential travel restrictions.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki addressed the idea of ​​domestic travel considerations during a briefing after DeSantis spoke.

“We are still considering what steps are necessary to ensure the safety of the American people, but we are not currently in the process of making, no decisions have been made regarding additional public health measures that would delay or change, I should say, the domestic travel considerations, ”Psaki said.

Any kind of travel restriction could derail the economy of Florida, which is heavily dependent on tourists. The initial wave of foreclosures last spring plunged state tax collections into a spiral. Florida would have been hit with a serious budget deficit without the nearly $ 5 billion in coronavirus relief it received from Congress.

DeSantis’ comments mark an escalation in tensions between the Biden administration and Florida. DeSantis was one of the main allies of former President Donald Trump, who now lives in Florida, and used that relationship to provide federal assistance and garner support for some of the governor’s key initiatives in his first two years. mandate.

Last month, DeSantis learned about some of the initial vaccine distribution plans discussed by the White House and pushed for more doses – which led White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki to blame Florida for not using its full vaccine allocation. DeSantis responded by pointing out that some of the doses were saved to make sure there was enough to provide a second injection.

But DeSantis issues a The provocative response to the idea is a turnaround from last year when it enacted restrictions on visitors to Florida from other states such as New York, New Jersey and Louisiana. At the onset of the pandemic, the governor demanded that anyone coming to Florida from multiple coronavirus hotspots self-quarantine for 14 days. At one point, DeSantis even asked the Florida Highway Patrol to set up checkpoints on Interstate 10, the main highway connecting Florida to Louisiana.

DeSantis, who is already raising money for his 2022 re-election campaign, is seen as a potential candidate for the 2024 presidential race, especially if Trump gives up on another race. DeSantis has won praise from the conservative media and other Republicans for his refusal to enact strict lockdowns and his constant struggle with the media.

Tyler Pager contributed to this report.