DeSantis: "Biden to the Basement, Trump to the White House"

Ron DeSantis, Governor of Florida and former primary rival of ex-US President Donald Trump, stated on the second day of the Republican National Convention on the 16th (local time) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, "Let's send President Joe Biden back to his basement and send former President Trump back to the White House."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to CNN live coverage, the convention focused on crime, immigration policies, and other issues under the theme "Make America Safe Once Again." Notably, the prime-time speaker lineup included many former rivals who had criticized former President Trump, drawing attention.

Following former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, Governor DeSantis took the podium and strongly expressed support, saying, "When former President Trump was our Commander-in-Chief, our country was respected."

He referenced the 1989 American comedy film Weekend at Bernie's to attack President Biden's age controversy. The film centers on two protagonists struggling to make their deceased boss appear alive over the weekend. The implication was that the elderly President Biden is incapable of performing his duties.

Governor DeSantis said, "Our enemies do not limit their plans from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.," adding, "We need a Commander-in-Chief who can lead 24 hours a day, seven days a week." This remark was also interpreted as targeting media reports that President Biden reduces events after 8 p.m. and increases sleep time. He continued, "As a citizen, husband, and father, I feel a sense of crisis about the current president's lack of ability to perform his duties."

[Image source=UPI Yonhap News]

Before Governor DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Ambassador Haley gave speeches among the primary candidates. Senator Ted Cruz, who ran against former President Trump in the 2016 primaries, also took the stage. Former President Trump appeared at the venue around 8 p.m., just before Senator Cruz's speech, with a bandage on his ear. CNN reported that former President Trump would attend the convention daily alongside vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance.