STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis paid an unannounced visit to Staten Island Friday afternoon.
The Republican governor and former presidential candidate was welcomed at Joyce’s Tavern in Eltingville.
According to a post on the tavern’s Facebook page, DeSantis met with Borough President Vito Fossella and patrons.
A video posted to social media shows DeSantis speaking at the tavern.
People in Florida say Staten Island is kind of like a borough of Florida because the politics are so similar, DeSantis told the crowd.
“And people will say sometimes to me, ‘oh, can you come to New York and save New York?’” he said. “And I always remind them ‘I couldn’t get elected in New York with the voters you have.’
“But if it was just NYPD and Fire, I could get elected if it was that,” DeSantis said to applause.
The purpose of the governor’s visit was not disclosed
This is not the first time DeSantis has visited the borough. In 2023, the governor spoke at an Annadale law enforcement event hosted by the New York State Fraternal Order of Police, about the need for safer communities. That event came ahead of DeSantis announcing his candidacy for president.
“Is this Florida north or is Florida Staten Island south?” the governor jokingly asked the crowd at the time. “You don’t have to look far in Florida to find someone that’s got Staten Island roots.”