DeSantis Campaign Press Release - ICYMI: Ron DeSantis on the Howie Carr Show

"I've been railing against our border and all the problems there for a number of reasons... do you think that our enemies have not been taking advantage of that open border?"

Tallahassee, FL - Ron DeSantis today joined the Howie Carr Show on New England's WKRO-AM 680. The highlights are below.

Listen to the full interview HERE.

On the need to support Israel and secure the US border:

I think just given what's happened in Israel, I was down in Miami in the Surfside area, and we did an announcement on the state of Florida. We're going to expand sanctions against Iran because basically, if any money that goes to that regime, they're not using it to help the people of Iran. They're helping it to fund terrorism. But we have a strong Jewish population, particularly in South Florida, and it's raw what's happened over there. They know people missing. They know people, unfortunately, that have died. So I was down there this morning, and it kind of puts it in perspective--there's a lot of problems with our country, there's a lot of problems in the world, and we need to focus on -- all the clutter that gets out there -- let's focus on what really matters. I get worried. I mean, I've been railing against our border and all the problems there for a number of reasons. The fentanyl overdose, the sex trafficking, just the sheer number of people that are overwhelming communities. But do you think that our enemies have not been taking advantage of that open border? We know Chinese have come across, we know Iranians have come across, we know Russians have come across, and we know other people from the Middle East come across. And I said, long before this attack on Israel, that there would be a terrorist attack in our country that could be traced back to the southern border. And I think I'm right on that. I hope I'm not, but I'd bet a lot of money I am.

On the leftist ideology that has infiltrated college campuses:

I knew it was always very left wing, and certainly when I was there, it was, and I was one of the few that came out there more conservative than when I went in, which is not easy to do. But at this point with the Ivy League, how nuts they've gotten, if I see a Harvard resume cross my desk, I'm running the other way. I mean, what is going on there is absolutely appalling. Yes, they've always been anti-Israel, but to go up in cheer a terrorist group that's cutting off the heads of infants. It's absolutely despicable.

On building the border wall:

Could the elites make it any clearer that they think that hard-working American citizens should come last? I mean, you're talking about people that are serving on active duty or veterans. These are folks that we should be honoring, and instead, they're being put to the back of the bus for people that came into this country illegally, and are being housed -- I mean, some of these folks are being put up in great accommodations. You know, there's veterans who end up homeless who don't end up getting this in different parts of the city. There's American citizens, just generally, who are not treated this well. We really have our priorities out of whack. But you know, the left in this country, with as bad as this border crisis has been, and obviously I wish it didn't happen, they've now had to eat some of this because they were the ones that have supported these types of policies. And now all of a sudden, you have the mayor of New York, the governor of New York, governor of Massachusetts acknowledging like this is just totally ridiculous. The Illinois Governor even said you can't have an open border, and yet Biden still does nothing. They claim he's finally going to start building the wall, but I'll believe that when I see it. I think that was a head fake.

On why he is the best candidate for president:

I will clean out FBI and DOJ. You know, Trump said the jury's still out on Christopher Wray as FBI director. I can tell you, with me, it's not. You are going to see a change on day one, and we are going to hold these people accountable. And we're going to end weaponization of the Justice Department. So I will do that. I think I'm in a better position to do it. I think it'd be harder for him to do it for a number of ways. So take that to the bank. I agree, I think the federal justice system is totally out of control. I have credibility on this because I've removed two Soros-backed prosecutors -- one in Tampa, one in Orlando... I also am able to serve two terms, and Donald Trump would not be able to do that. You know, I've said I think his path to 270 electoral votes is tough, and I think I have a clearer path for that. But put that aside, I think you need to serve two consecutive terms to get all this stuff to stick. Because you're talking about getting this bureaucracy back under the Constitution, slaying the administrative state; man, that's trench warfare. You're going to have to have thousands of people in there supporting you as appointees, and you're going to have to go to work. These people are not going to give up their power willingly. You got to know how to use the levers of power. You got to have strategic judgment, discipline and focus. And you've really got to do it for two full terms, and I'll be able to do that for people.