DeSantis makes stops in New York and Philadelphia to promote tougher crime laws.

NEW YORK (WSVN) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made stops in the Northeast to push for tougher crime laws. He spent Presidents Day in New York City on Staten Island and in suburban Philadelphia.

The Governor has been invited to participate in several discussions on law enforcement and policing issues.

“We support the blues and support their mission,” DeSantis said.

All of this comes amid growing rumors that the governor is preparing to apply for the White House and that these out-of-state trips are to test the ground as his national profile has grown over the past few years.

His message touts Florida’s successes.

“In the past few years, people have looked to Florida as a place to visit our country,” he said. “We are the fastest growing state in the United States. Florida has been leading the nation in net migration for many years. We are the number one state in economic freedom, the number one state in new businesses.”

DeSantis quickly turned to issues of national and cultural warfare.

“The number one state for freedom of education,” DeSantis said. “We are working very hard to make sure we have a K-12 system where parents can be sure that you know as a parent that you are sending your child to a school in Florida and that child will get an education, not a political one. indoctrination. . They want things like gender ideology. We have things with critical theory where they basically take a kid who turns 6 and say you’re white, you’re an oppressor.”

The visit did not go unnoticed.

Democratic New York Mayor Eric Adams criticized the Governor’s controversial policy, tweeting, “Welcome to New York @GovRonDeSantis, a place where we don’t ban books, don’t discriminate against our LGBTQ+ neighbors, don’t use asylum seekers as props and don’t let the government stand between women and health care. We’d love to teach you a thing or two about values ​​while you’re here.”

“As proud as I am that Florida is doing well, I want the country to do well,” DeSantis said.

If the governor does announce his candidacy, he will join a growing group of candidates after former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.

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