DeSantis Campaign Press Release - ICYMI: Ron DeSantis on CNN News Central

"We're going to stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but in the weeks and months ahead."

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ron DeSantis joined CNN's John Berman on CNN News Central today. The highlights are below.

Watch the full interview HERE.

On standing united with Israel:

Let's have unanimity between both parties all across this country that we're going to stand with Israel, not just today, not just tomorrow, but in the weeks and months ahead. I think there's going to end up being pressure, you already have the United Nations, they put out a tweet the Human Rights Council saying that they're concerned about people in Palestine and other areas who may have been killed. They wouldn't even use the word, Israel. There's going to probably be media attention placed on Israel, blaming them. So, if both the administration, the Congress, and the country can unite, I think that's going to be a good thing. I'm concerned when I see demonstrations in major cities that are celebrating what Hamas did. The decapitation of babies, you're executing elderly people, this is barbarism and so the more unanimity we have, the better.

On how the terrorist attacks in Israel underscore the need to secure our southern border:

I would also ask the president to consider reversing his policies on the southern border. We are vulnerable when you have all these military age men coming in. Do you think that our enemies have not been looking at that weakness? We know people from Iran have come we know people from Russia have come, we know China and other parts of the Middle East. That is not good for the security of this country. Israel probably has the strongest border security in the world and yet this happened to them.

On how Florida has led the fight against antisemitism:

This is personal for us here in Florida. We have the second largest Israeli-American population in the country. We've been a magnet since I've been governor for Orthodox Jews, I was just in South Florida at a synagogue announcing we're going to be expanding state-based Iran sanctions because money going into that regime, unfortunately, is turned around and used to facilitate terrorism. There's people in the congregation down there, there's people all throughout Florida who have lost friends, who have lost family members, who have friends or family that are missing and still unaccounted for. So, the emotions are very raw, but I think the resolve of being able to cut through the clutter and just being able to bring justice to this situation, this is probably the darkest hour in Israel's modern history and that's saying something because they've faced a lot of attacks.

I think we just have to stand up together and do what's right and so, yeah, look, I'm proud of what we've done in Florida. We've signed major legislation to combat antisemitism. We've provided security assistance for our Jewish day schools, and we've beefed up holocaust education because it's important we never forget. We've led by example here with our deeds and that's part of the reason why we have such a strong community here.