WASHINGTON (LifeSiteNews) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected President Joe Biden’s request to send Florida National Guardsmen to the nation’s capital for the State of the Union speech Tuesday night.
“Last week, the Biden Administration requested the assistance of State National Guards to deploy to Washington D.C.,” DeSantis tweeted on Monday. “I have rejected this request — there will be no @FLGuard sent to D.C. for Biden’s State of the Union.”
DeSantis’ Press Secretary Christina Pushaw referenced the scenes of National Guard troops sleeping in freezing parking garages from January 2021 as one reason why the governor rejected the request.
“Last week, the federal government requested all states send National Guard personnel to DC to prepare for anticipated ‘First Amendment protests,’” Christina Pushaw told The Epoch Times. “The National Guard should never be misused for political purposes.”
“Last year, when the National Guard deployed to DC around the inauguration, they were forced to sleep in freezing parking lots, all for a regime spectacle,” Pushaw said. “Our dedicated, patriotic service members deserve better.”
There will be at least 700 National Guard troops, security fencing and tactical vehicles in D.C. tonight.
In addition to the State of the Union address, members of several trucker convoys are expected to begin driving around or into D.C. between now and March 5.