‘We will build the wall. NO EXCUSES.’
Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis previewed his border policy rollout in a dark video about the crisis, taking aim at rivals in an out of the White House.
The new spot, accentuated with thriller-movie music, appears to double as a sharp rebuke of President Biden’s immigration record and an implicit dig at former President Donald Trump’s failure to make good on his promises.
DeSantis will formally unveil his border security policy on Monday in Eagle Pass, Texas.
“We will secure the border. We will stop the cartels. We will build the wall. We will stop the invasion. NO EXCUSES. @RonDeSantis will get it done,” the DeSantis War Room tweeted alongside the video.
The clip features news anchors and reporters describing the border crisis coupled with text highlighting statistics including drug cartels and terrorists detained at the border.
“A growing humanitarian crisis at the southern border,” a newsperson is heard saying in the spot.
“What has been happening under President Biden’s watch is that so many immigrants think it will be easier to enter the United States,” another voice says.
Trump went unmentioned by name in the ad. But DeSantis has previously alluded to Trump’s past immigration promises, notably his call to build a border wall.
“Leadership is not about entertainment,” DeSantis told New Hampshire voters several weeks ago, the Boston Herald reported. “Leadership is about producing results for the people you represent.”
“We will finally after years and years of discussions and Republicans complaining about it, we will finally be the administration to bring this border issue to a conclusion. We are going to shut the border down, we are going to build the border wall.”
DeSantis reiterated that pledge during remarks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference on Friday.
A core tenet of the governor’s pitch to Republican primary voters is that he is an energetic, competent executive who will be able to deliver on conservative wishlist items.
Last week, his office announced a coalition of 90 sheriffs to work to ease the border crisis.
He previously signed anti-illegal immigration legislation last May and has shipped migrants from Texas to liberal enclaves such as Martha’s Vineyard.
The Trump campaign boasted about the former president’s border policies in response.
“DeSantis knows that Trump’s border policies kept America safe,” the MAGA War Room tweeted.