Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis was inaugurated for his second term on Tuesday after winning reelection by more than 19 points.
Before giving his address, DeSantis took the oath of office with his palm resting on a historical Bible on loan from a Dallas-area collection.
Conservative commentator and historical artifact collector Glenn Beck explained that he had offered DeSantis the use of one of the Bibles out of his museum, the American Journey Experience.
Beck said he loaned DeSantis the book for the occasion because he believes his work in the state has had “real historical significance. It is the beginning of a renewal of the principles for which our Founders fought.”
Printed in 1782 by Robert Aitken, the Bible is among the rarest books in American history, with only a few dozen surviving copies. In addition to its being the first English-language Bible printed in America, the Continental Congress reviewed the text before recommending its use to the citizens of the country.
In his inauguration speech, Gov. DeSantis framed his governing policy as a stand against the political left’s radical “woke” ideologies.
“When the world lost its mind — when common sense suddenly became an uncommon virtue — Florida was a refuge of sanity,” DeSantis claimed, “a citadel of freedom for our fellow Americans and even for people around the world.”
“Florida must always be a great place to raise a family … and we will defend our children against those who seek to rob them of their innocence,” he continued. “We reject this woke ideology. We seek normalcy, not philosophical lunacy.”
“We will not allow reality, facts, and truth to become optional. We will never surrender to the woke mob,” the potential GOP presidential candidate declared. “Florida is where woke goes to die.”
DeSantis also pushed back against cities and states that defunded police departments or decriminalized certain activities, suggesting, “They have harmed public safety by coddling criminals and attacking law enforcement.”
“We will always remain a law-and-order state, we will always support law enforcement,” he continued, “and we will always reject soft-on-crime policies that put our communities at risk.”
As Florida has become the fastest-growing state in the union for the first time in over half a century, the state’s economy has become one of the largest in the world.
“Florida is proof positive that We the People are not destined for failure,” DeSantis opined. “Decline is a choice. Success is attainable. And freedom is worth fighting for.”
DeSantis has become a favorite for the Republican nomination for president in the 2024 election. His run for the nomination would set him against fellow Floridian and former president Donald Trump, who has already announced his candidacy.
A poll conducted by Suffolk University and USA Today in early December suggested that 65% of conservative voters prefer DeSantis over Trump in 2024. The same survey found that DeSantis would beat current president Joe Biden by five points while Trump would lose the same matchup by seven.
In contrast, a poll by Big Village, also in December, showed that if the 2024 national Republican primary were held immediately, 51% would vote for Trump while only 27% would choose DeSantis.