Gaetz: Florida Gov. DeSantis a 'Strong Potential Presidential Candidate'

Rep. Matt Gaetz on Sunday floated a potential presidential bid by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and implied the Biden administration is considering pre-flight testing and domestic air travel restrictions to "cast aspersions on the Florida experience" because DeSantis could be a rival. 

"He is a strong potential presidential candidate in 2024," the Florida Republican said Sunday on Fox News. "The Biden team knows that, and so they're trying to somehow cast aspersions on the Florida experience because you know what, throughout America, there's a lot of Florida envy right now."

Gaetz's comments came after Fox interviewed DeSantis on Sunday, with the governor accusing President Joe Biden of mulling travel restrictions to target Florida for its thriving economy and housing sector. 

According to reports, the Biden administration has been looking into imposing domestic travel restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus variants. The administration isn't targeting any particular state but is reviewing how to stop the spread of the virus mutations that are surging in some states, including Florida and California. 

Gaetz, who represents Florida's 1st Congressional District, said he is proud of the governor and that the "Biden folks know that if Donald Trump is not the candidate in 2024, the leader of our movement will be Ron DeSantis." 

The lawmaker also echoed DeSantis on his statements on Florida's "prosperity" during the coronavirus pandemic and said their state is "attractive to people who are having to endure lockdowns in other parts of America."

"People see Florida businesses are opening and unemployment is dropping, and home buying is increasing," he added. "That type of prosperity is attractive to people who are having to endure a lockdown in other parts of America."

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