Florida Governor Ron DeSantis drew a smile from Donald Trump and loud cheers during his “unity” speech on the second day of the Republican Party Convention.
Trump’s former rival for the 2024 presidential election said America can’t afford another term as the country is being governed like Weekend at Bernie’s, referencing the movie in which a task force turns their dead boss into a puppet so he can pretend he’s still alive.
“Let’s send Joe Biden back to his basement and let’s send Donald Trump back to the White House!” DeSantis said at the start of his speech at the party conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Tuesday.
DeSantis joins other Republicans who believe President Joe Biden cannot run the country, saying he is mentally and physically unfit for another term.
The Florida governor spoke at the convention following remarks by fellow Republican primary candidate Nikki Haley. Both appeared at the request of Trump, who wanted to show unity within the GOP after officially becoming the nominee in the November election just two days after an assassination attempt.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had Donald Trump laughing during his remarks on the second day of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Tuesday
“Our country was respected when Donald Trump was our commander in chief,” DeSantis said. “Joe Biden has failed this country.”
“As a citizen, as a husband, and as a father, I am alarmed that the current President of the United States is unable to discharge the duties of his office,” he said. “Our enemies do not confine their plans to between 10:00 and 16:00. We need a commander in chief who can lead 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
DeSantis added a telling remark: “America cannot afford four more years of the Weekend at Bernie presidency.”
Trump, seen on the big screen at the Fiserv Forum, laughed at DeSantis’ joke and laughed flatly.
“That’s great,” he seemed to say.
“Let’s face it,” Desantis continued. “Biden is just a figurehead. He’s a tool to push a leftist agenda on the American people.”
“America cannot afford four more years of the Weekend at Bernie presidency,” DeSantis said, referring to the film (pictured above) in which a group turns their deceased boss into a puppet to pretend he is still alive.
Trump was seen grinning and smiling flatly during the sing-song. He appeared to say, “That’s great.”
Just like in the movie, MAGA Republicans claim that Biden is a “puppet” of those who really run the country behind the scenes.
DeSantis and Trump have had a troubled relationship for years.
It was Trump who thrust DeSantis into the spotlight and gave him his first primary victory, leading him to Florida governorship in 2018.
But when Trump made it clear that it would be a “betrayal” if DeSantis ran against him in the Republican primary, the governor made a move anyway.
After dropping out of the race before the New Hampshire primary, DeSantis has now returned to Trump and endorsed his presidential bid.
DeSantis spoke after former fellow 2024 primary candidate Nikki Haley (pictured) in a “unity” segment of the program to show a united front within the Republican Party ahead of the November elections