On Tuesday, Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called out the Biden administration’s illogical immigration and COVID-19 vaccination policies, and asked the White House if tennis player Novak Djokovic would be allowed to come to Florida by boat to compete.
“The only thing keeping Novak Djokovic from participating in the Miami Open tennis tournament is President Biden’s misguided and unscientific COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreigner travelers,” DeSantis wrote on Twitter with a copy of his letter. “Mr. President – lift your restrictions and let him compete.”
DeSantis wrote in the letter to Biden, “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. This denial is unfair, unscientific and unacceptable. I urge you to reconsider. It’s time to put pandemic politics aside and give the American people what they want – let him play.”
“I note that since the onset of COVID-19, Mr. Djokovic has visited the United States twice — including once during your presidency — without any apparent health incident,” DeSantis continued. “It is also not clear to me why, even by the terms of your own proclamation, Mr. Djokovic could not legally enter this country via boat. Please confirm no later than Friday, March 10, 2023, that this method of travel into Florida would be permissible.”
DeSantis then noted that the Biden administration had “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,” DeSantis continued.
“Mr. Djokovic is an extraordinary tennis player who should have every right to compete in this year’s Miami Open, which will commence on March 20. I respectfully ask you to grant his requested exemption so that he may delight and inspire tennis fans in Florida and around the Nation,” DeSantis concluded.