Ron DeSantis, in fiery speech, says America can't afford four more years of Biden

WASHINGTON - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, in a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention Tuesday, told his fellow Republicans that America cannot afford four more years of what he called Joe Biden's a “Weekend at Bernie’s” presidency.

“Life was more affordable when Donald Trump was president. Our border was safer under the Trump administration and our country was respected when Donald Trump was commander in chief,” DeSantis said.

The governor, who ran against Trump in the Republican primaries and later dropped out, has had a rocky relationship with the former president who at one point gave him the nickname “DeSanctimonius.”

But after his failed White House bid, DeSantis has stood by Trump. In his speech Tuesday, he slammed President Joe Biden and the Democrats for their immigration policies and alleged that they’ve weaponized political power to target their political opponents.

“Donald Trump stands in their way and he stands up for America,” DeSantis said. “Donald Trump has been demonized. He's been sued. He's been prosecuted, and he nearly lost his life. We cannot let him down and we cannot let America down.”

DeSantis said Trump would advance Republican priorities, including reducing the national debt, implementing universal school choice, building a strong military and other actions.

“Now electing Donald Trump gives us the chance to do this all across America,” he said. "And we have a responsibility to step up and make it happen. We have a responsibility to preserve what George Washington called the sacred fire of liberty. This was a fire that burned in Independence Hall in 1776 when 56 men fled their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to establish this nation.”