Ron and Casey DeSantis host Gold Star and 9/11 victims’ families for Memorial Day BBQ
Ron DeSantis hosted Gold Star and military families, veterans and victims of 9/11 for a Memorial Day BBQ on Sunday where they shared with the Florida governor frustrations with Donald Trump hosting the same weekend a Saudi Arabian-funded golf tournament.
The Navy veteran and his wife and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis had 500 people at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee and made time for a more than hour-long conversation with families of those who lost loved-ones in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The 2024 candidate also delivered remarks in Jacksonville, Florida on Monday honoring the fallen.
Meanwhile, the former president was hosting at Trump National in Sterling, Virginia – just outside of Washington, D.C. – the LIV golf tournament, which is bankrolled by Saudi Arabia.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey hosted 500 Gold Star families, Military members and families, those who lost loved ones in the 9/11 attacks and veterans at a BBQ at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday
DeSantis mingled with the hundreds of guests outside his residence for a Memorial Day celebration on Sunday, May 28
DeSantis met on Sunday with eight families who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and heard from those upset that Trump held the tournament.
Brett Eagleson, who was 15 when he lost his father in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11, said that he appreciated DeSantis hearing their concerns and was disappointed in the former president.
‘We shared with [DeSantis] our past dealings with President Trump and we just laid out what a stark contrast it was between what he was doing that day; hosting Gold Star family members, members from the 9/11 community and active members of the Military at the Florida governor’s House. Compare that to what a former president is doing that same weekend; right outside the Pentagon, he’s hosting the Saudis in a Saudi-funded golf tournament,’ Eagleson, 37, detailed to DaillyMail.com.
‘But just think that, you know, that stark contrast doesn’t need more explanation as to how DeSantis feels versus how Trump feels,’ he added. ‘So I thought it was really powerful and it sent a significant message as to where the Governor’s priorities are at least.’
Eagleson is president of the organization 9/11 Justice and has spent seven years fighting for more information about Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in the attacks.
He confirmed to DailyMail.com that the families in the meeting Sunday shared with DeSantis how they felt about Trump’s golf tournament – and said that DeSantis seemed willing to meet with the group in the future.
‘I brought that up personally,’ Eagleson said. ‘I wanted him to be aware of that.’
Florida’s first lady Casey DeSantis also spoke with and took pictures with attendees
The governor made remarks for the crowd alongside his wife and three children – Madison, 5, Mason, 4, and Mamie, 2
‘Kudos to you, Mr. Governor for hosting us and Goldstar families on Memorial Day, honoring the lives of the people that give their lives for this country while President Trump is hosting a Saudi funded golf tournament.’
DeSantis lamented that the families are still scouring for answers more than two decades after the terrorist attack.
‘They’ve had a lot of frustration about getting justice based on the 9/11 attacks,’ DeSantis told Fox and Friends on Monday morning. ‘They’re suing Saudi Arabia, they’re trying to get more documents.’
‘They’ve been made promises in the past about getting help, and then, basically, some of our elected leaders have reneged on those promises,’ the governor added. ‘And so, I think that they’ve been punched in the gut a number of times. And I think it’s been difficult to now be two decades later and still trying to get full justice.’
DeSantis also delivered remarks in Jacksonville, Florida on Memorial Day Monday
Ron, Casey and their three children – Madison, five, Mason, four, and Mamie, two – appeared for a BBQ celebration honoring fallen service members in Tallahassee, Florida on Sunday.
The family mingled with the 500 guests before the Florida first couple leaves for Iowa this week to start the governor’s first campaign swing to early primary states after announcing his 2024 Republican presidential primary run last week.
DeSantis’ campaign kick-off will start in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday and continue in four more cities in the first-in-the-nation primary contest state on Wednesday.
He and Casey will then head to New Hampshire for a four-city swing on Thursday, followed by the final stop in South Carolina on Friday.
Before taking off for the midwest, Gov. DeSantis delivered three-minute remarks at the Veterans Memorial Ceremony in Jacksonville.