Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has called on Democrat President Joe Biden to allow tennis superstar Novak Djokovic into the United States to play in the upcoming Miami Open.
Djokovic is blocked from entering the country because he never got vaccinated against Covid.
“It has been reported that Novak Djokovic has formally applied and been denied permission from your administration to enter the United States so that he may compete at the upcoming Miami Open tennis tournament,” DeSantis said.
“This denial is unfair, unscientific, and unacceptable.
“I urge you to reconsider,” the governor continued.
“It’s time to put pandemic politics aside and give the American people what they want – let him play.
“It is also not clear to me why, even by the terms of your own proclamation, Mr. Djokovic could not legally enter this county via boat.
“Please confirm no later than Friday, March 10, 2023, that this method of travel into Florida would be permissible.
“Furthermore, even as you enacted a Proclamation on air travel that remains in force to this day, your administration pointedly allowed thousands of unvaccinated migrants to enter our country through the southern border.
“In sum, the current ‘travel ban’ as applied to Mr. Djokovic – and presumably millions of other potential unvaccinated foreign visitors – seems completely ungrounded in logic, common sense, or any genuine concern for the health and welfare of the American people.
“The Miami Open is the second most popular tennis event in the United States and routinely attracts hundreds of thousands of fans as well as premier tennis professionals from around the world.
“Novak Djokovic, as you surely know, is the most accomplished tennis player in history and the reigning top-ranked player in his sport.
“The only thing keeping Mr. Djokovic from participating in this tournament is your administration’s continued enforcement of a misguided, unscientific, and out-of-date COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreign guests seeking to visit our great country.
“American tennis legend John McEnroe recently termed this restriction ‘absurd.’
“He was quite right to say so.”
Gov. DeSantis also reminded Biden how successful his policies were in Florida:
“I am proud of these efforts, which unquestionably promoted personal liberty and economic growth without exposing our citizens to any substantiated harm.
“Although it has taken some time, most of the rest of the world has now come to recognize COVID-19 vaccination requirements as obsolete.
“I respectfully ask you to grant his requested exemption so that he may delight and inspire tennis fans in Florida and around the Nation.”
Republican Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio said:
“It has come to our attention that your administration is in receipt of a request to waive the current vaccine mandate for international travelers entering the United States from top-ranked men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic.
“We write to urge you to grant the requested waiver, which is necessary to allow Mr. Djokovic to compete in the Miami Open professional tennis tournament held in our home state of Florida beginning March 19, 2023.”
BREAKING: DeSantis pens letter to Biden on denial of Novak Djokovic entry to compete in the Miami Open tournament over vaccine status
“Your administration pointedly allowed thousands of unvaccinated migrants […] [Your vax travel ban] seems completely ungrounded in logic…”
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 7, 2023
MORE: DeSantis said Biden has until March 10 to confirm that Djokovic may enter Florida via boat
“The only thing keeping Mr. Djokovic from participating in this tournament is your administration’s continued enforcement of a misguided, unscientific, https://t.co/vG71VgyNc3… https://t.co/Ognkdiyvmj
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 7, 2023
