DeSantis casts himself as a national leader at his inauguration amid 2024 speculation, promising Florida will 'carry the torch' of freedom and fight 'woke'

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday.
• He cast himself — and Florida — as a national leader during his short speech. 
• Rumors proliferate over whether he'll seek the White House in 2024, challenging Trump. 

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida took his second Oath of Office here on Tuesday, casting himself as a national leader at a time when the political world is buzzing about his presidential prospects. 

"Florida is proof-positive that we the people are not destined for failure," DeSantis said during a 16-minute speech delivered on the steps of the Historic Capitol. "Decline is a choice, success is attainable, and freedom is worth fighting for." 

DeSantis spoke before more than 4,000 attendees in a speech that was also heavy on Biblical imagery as dark blue banners hung behind him that read, "The Free State of Florida." The governor pledged that through Florida he would "fight for freedom" against "entrenched bureaucrats in DC, jet-setters in Davos, and corporations wielding public power." 

DeSantis harkened to US history during his speech, mentioning the Declaration of Independence, President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, the battle at Normandy, and Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. He promised to "carry this torch" of freedom in Florida. 

The Florida inauguration offered a split screen from the national conversation back in Washington, DC, where Republicans performed poorly in the midterms. In the US House, the party stood divided over who should be the next speaker.

In contrast, DeSantis enters his second term with a Republican supermajority in the legislature. On Election Day he carried the state by nearly 20 points against former Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist. The victory was a massive turnaround for the governor, who won his first gubernatorial race by just 33,000 votes. 

DeSantis hasn't been shy about bragging about his victory on Election Day, and did so again on Tuesday, saying, "the people of Florida have validated our efforts in record fashion." He also boasted about the mass of people who have moved to Florida from other states, calling his homestate the "most desired destination" and "a promised land of sanity." The state was "leading the nation," he said. 

It's not yet clear whether DeSantis could carry the same constituency nationally, should he decide to run for president. The governor could use the forthcoming legislative session to pass new policies in Florida, and officially run on those policies nationally in a few months.

He's also releasing his first memoir in February, which could serve to help introduce him to voters. 

Former President Donald Trump — who endorsed DeSantis for governor in 2018 but now says he considers him insufficiently loyal — is the only candidate who has formally declared a run in 2024.

More schools policies and lower taxes, fighting 'woke'

At the start of the inauguration ceremony DeSantis walked out onto the steps of the Historic Capitol flanked by his wife, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, and his three children. The sky was overcast, but it did not rain. 

Casey DeSantis wore a regal-inspired pale lime green dress with a cape, and held the Bible as her husband took the oath of office. DeSantis borrowed the Bible — which was used in the US Revolution — from syndicated radio host and co-founder of Blaze Media Glenn Beck.

Beck was among the guests in the audience, confirmed inauguration spokeswoman Lindsey Curnutte. 

Also in the audience was former GOP Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, who also ran for president in 2016, and Jennifer Carroll, who was Florida's lieutenant governor under former GOP Gov. Rick Scott, now a US senator. Members of the Florida delegation were absent because Tuesday also marked the first day of the new Congress. 

DeSantis gave some indication of policies he'll push during a second term. He promised to lower taxes in Florida, to "enact more family-friendly policies to make it easier to raise children," and to "defend our children against those who seek to rob them of their innocence."

The line about children received a long applause from the audience, some of whom paid between $50,000 to $1 million to attend the inauguration and surrounding festivities, Politico first reported. 

The DeSantis administration's education policies have received backlash from Democrats, both nationally and in the state. The governor signed a bill into law preventing certain teachings about race in schools, as well as limiting teachings about gender identity and sexual orientation. 

More recently, the DeSantis administration launched an investigation into a drag performance for allegedly exposing children to sexually explicit content, the Miami Herald reported. The organizer has said that any minors present had to be accompanied by an adult, and several critics say the governor is running a crusade against LGBTQ rights. 

DeSantis did not make specific promises about abortion bans during his speech, though in public comments he has appeared to be willing to go further than the state's current ban, which makes abortion illegal after 15 weeks into a pregnancy. The Democratic National Committee warned of forthcoming restrictions in a statement, and bashed DeSantis as similar to Trump. 

"As the 2024 GOP primary shapes up, it's clear Republicans will race to out-MAGA each other, and DeSantis is no different," said Ammar Moussa, DNC spokesman. 

DeSantis hasn't backed down amid the backlash.

"We will never surrender to the woke mob," DeSantis said during Tuesday's speech, using a term he invokes often as a stand-in for liberal activism. "Florida is where woke goes to die." 

The festivities started on Monday night 

Also taking the Oath of Office on Tuesday were Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Commissioner of Agriculture-Elect Wilton Simpson, and Attorney General Ashley Moody, who was sworn in by her father, Justice James Moody, Jr. 

Any of these officials could be weighing potential political moves of their own. Even if DeSantis doesn't run for the White House, he'll be term-limited out after four years — creating an opening for a new governor of Florida. 

Retired broadcaster Gene Deckerhoff, who was the voice of the Florida State Seminoles for 43 years, was the MC for the event. 

DeSantis held a prayer with faith leaders at the Capitol ahead of his swearing in. Following the ceremony, Casey DeSantis is hosting a "Toast to 1 Million Mamas" at the Governor's Mansion. 

The inauguration festivities formally kicked off Monday evening with a candlelight cocktail hour and dinner, which was catered by Carbone, the trendy Italian-American restaurant that has a location in Miami Beach, Insider first reported.

The dinner included Carbone's famous spicy rigatoni vodka, and between 250 to 300 people attended, according to a source in attendance who spoke on condition of anonymity.

DeSantis and Jeff Zalaznick, co-owner of Carbone parent company Major Food Group, made remarks, the source said. 

The City of Tallahassee altered its road signs during the inauguration to read "Ron DeSantis Way" and "Jeanette Nuñez Way."