'Don’t come here': Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responds to musicians boycotting SXSW over US Army sponsorship



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) succinctly dismissed bands that have announced boycotts over one of the state's biggest yearly events, the South by Southwest festival.

The annual event has put films, music, interactive media, as well as conferences on display since 1987 in Austin, Texas, which is typically seen as the most art-centric city in the state.

The typically progressive art scene that is prevalent at the festival has decided that the event's sponsors went too far in 2024 with the inclusion of the United States Army as a major backer.

Multiple artists have announced that they have pulled out of the festival over the sponsorship, which they have connected to the Israel-Palestine war in many cases.

Rap group Kneecap from Northern Ireland announced they would not be joining the festival, saying they "cannot in good conscience attend an arts festival that has 'The U.S Army' as a 'super Sponsor,'" the group explained.

They also claimed that other sponsors like RTX were "selling the weapons that have murdered 31,000 Palestinians."

We will not be appearing at @sxsw festival. \ud83d\udc47
— (@)

Brooklyn-based artist Okay Shalom posted on her Instagram that she has dropped out of the festival.

"There’s always a right thing to do and it’s almost never as complicated as the establishment wants you to believe. and sometimes it costs you a dream, but a dream is a dream and not a life. palestinians deserve to dream. they deserve to live," she wrote.

"I am pulling out specifically because of the fact that SXSW is platforming defense contractors including Raytheon subsidiaries as well as the US Army, a main sponsor of the festival," added artist Ella Williams, who goes by Squirrel Flower.

An English group called the Lambrini Girls were less specific, saying they were "trying to find a way to [sic] out of the situation whilst keeping our moral integrity in tact [sic]."

With dozens of bands having reportedly pulled out, Gov. Abbott responded to a media report on the topic through his X account.

"Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army sponsorship. Bye. Don’t come back. Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command. San Antonio is Military City USA. We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas. If you don’t like it, don’t come here," Abbott wrote.

Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army sponsorship.

Bye. Don’t come back.

Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command.

San Antonio is Military City USA.

We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas.

If you don’t like it, don’t come here.
https://t.co/t3RyQgLRKN
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 12, 2024

As USA Today reported, Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of defense contractor RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation), sponsored two showcases at SXSW.

The U.S. Army also announced themselves as a "Super Sponsor" for the festival, likely to reach a younger audience amid recruiting woes.

The progressive boycotts fail to mention any number of the other corporate sponsors that have been funding the festival for years. Volkswagen, alcohol brand White Claw, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, credit card company Capital One, and more are listed as "notable alumni" sponsors of the event.

For 2024, sponsors also include Delta Air Lines and Itau, Latin America's biggest financial institution.

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Video: Border Patrol agent cuts razor wire installed by Texas to deter illegal crossings — then allows migrants to enter private property



A video shared by a Fox News national correspondent on Friday appears to show a Border Patrol agent cutting through razor wire installed by the Texas Department of Public Safety to deter illegal immigration. The video then captures the agent holding the wire out of the way as several migrants walk through the opening and onto private property.

Bill Melugin, a Los Angeles-based national correspondent for Fox News, shared the video on Twitter.

— (@)

According to Melugin, the footage was captured on private property in Eagle Pass, where the owner gave Texas DPS permission to install razor wire to reduce illegal crossings.

Texas DPS told Melugin that this is the first time it is aware that federal Border Patrol agents have tampered with its installed deterrents. The agency also stated that it plans to investigate the “potential destruction of TX property.”

“The federal government’s position is that once migrants are on U.S. soil, under U.S. law, they need to be processed, and cannot be repelled or turned away. Texas is taking a much different approach, and has been physically blocking migrants under orders from Governor @GregAbbott_TX,” Melugin tweeted.

“TXDPS tells me the location this video was shot at is private property, and that they have permission from the owner to lay down razor wire and arrest migrants for criminal trespassing. This Border Patrol agent is likely just doing what he’s been told - but this will likely lead to more friction between TX & the Feds, who have drastically different approaches at the border,” Melugin added.

In a statement to Melugin, Customs and Border Protection explained that federal agents observed a group of migrants with young children who had already crossed the Rio Grande River and, therefore, were on United States soil. A CBP official explained that agents attempted to apprehend the group quickly to get them out of the heat.

“It is a federal responsibility to enforce U.S. immigration laws. U.S. Border Patrol continues to enforce U.S. immigration laws. The individuals had already crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico, were on U.S. soil, and are subject to U.S. immigration laws. Individuals who cross unlawfully will be subject to the lawful pathways rule, which places common-sense conditions on asylum eligibility, with certain exceptions. Those who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States will be removed,” a CBP official told Melugin.

Texas DPS Lieutenant Chris Olivarez told Fox News that he believes the Border Patrol agent was following orders handed down by the Biden administration.

“Anyone who crosses the river, once they’re on US soil, Border Patrol agents have no choice, no matter what the conditions are, no matter what barriers are in front of them, they have to allow those immigrants into the country so they can be processed,” Olivarez explained.

“By cutting that wire, by cutting that fence that we have placed as a state to repel mass migration, this completely undermines our ability to secure the border,” he added. “That’s the whole purpose of why we placed that wire along the Rio Grande river is to redirect, to deter any mass groups crossing that dangerous river, especially now with the extreme heat.”

Olivarez noted that Texas DPS plans to add more razor wire and other barriers along the border to deter illegal migration.

In May, Melugin shared a video that appeared to show a United States soldier opening a border gate to allow migrants to enter private property in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Texas National Guard told Melugin that the soldier in the video was working with Border Patrol and under federal government orders.

CBP has reported more than 1.6 million southern border encounters from October through May.

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Video: Mass shooting at Texas premium outlet mall, reports of multiple fatalities including children, SWAT teams and FBI at the scene



There has been a mass shooting on Saturday afternoon at the Allen Premium Outlets in Texas.

Authorities have released very few details regarding the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlet mall.

Around 3:40 p.m. on Saturday, there were reports of a shooting at the outlet mall in the Dallas area. Video shows the moment that gunshots rang out at the mall.

(WARNING: Graphic video)

\u201c\ud83d\udea8#UPDATE: Police scanners are are reporting at least 5 people are down with possible 3-4 fatalities following active shooter situation at the Texas outlet mall multiple ambulance have been requested at this time\u201d
— R A W S A L E R T S (@R A W S A L E R T S) 1683408515

Witnesses reported dozens of gunshots, which forced the mall to go on lockdown.

WFAA reported that there are "multiple victims, including children." The outlet cited the Collin County sheriff, who confirmed that the shooter is dead at the crime scene in Allen, Texas.

There were several armored SWAT vehicles at the Allen Premium Outlets.

The Allen Police Department said, "Law enforcement is on the scene at Allen Premium Outlets. An active investigation is underway. Please avoid the area until further update."

Ambulances from Allen and other neighboring cities responded to the emergency situation.

The Dallas office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said its personnel are "responding to the active shooter incident at Allen Premium Outlets in Allen, TX."

KTRK-TV reported that the FBI is at the crime scene to assist in the investigation into the shooting.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement:

Our hearts are with the people of Allen, Texas tonight during this unspeakable tragedy. I have been in contact with Mayor Fulk and DPS Director McCraw as well as other state and local leaders and offered the full support of the State of Texas to local officials to ensure all needed assistance and resources are swiftly deployed, including DPS officers, Texas Rangers, and investigative resources.
\u201c#NEW Governor @GregAbbott_TX statement on the shooting at the outlet mall in Allen. @CBSNewsTexas\u201d
— Jack Fink (@Jack Fink) 1683413155

Elaine Penicaro, a shopper at the mall, told KDFW, "We were outside the Converse store and we just heard all this popping. We kind of all just stopped, and then a second later, just 'Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,' and there were sparks flying like it was right in front of us."

This is a breaking news story and will be updated when new details are revealed.

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Police investigating shooting at Allen Premium Outlets www.youtube.com

Ted Cruz blasts Biden as the 'biggest human trafficker on the face of the planet,' gives list of places to send migrants next



Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) slammed President Joe Biden for his role in the current border crisis. The Republican senator from Texas also provided a list of places where border states could send the influx of illegal immigrants.

Cruz appeared on Friday's edition of "Hannity," where he skewered Democrats as "screaming hypocrites" for shipping 50 migrants out of Martha's Vineyard to a military base on Cape Cod.

Cruz pointed out that Democrats thought the 50 migrants relocated to Martha's Vineyard was a "humanitarian crisis," but were silent about the 53 migrants who were found dead in an abandoned tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas. Authorities believe the tragedy was the deadliest human smuggling case in modern U.S. history.

"You know, the Democrats did not think it was a humanitarian crisis when we pulled over 50 bodies and body bags out of a truck in Texas of illegal immigrants who died because the smugglers let them die of heat exposure," Cruz said. "And yet suddenly, 50 illegal immigrants show up in lily-white Martha's Vineyard, where rich liberals and billionaires sip Chardonnay, and it is World War III. They lose their stuff all over the place. And it just shows what utter nonsense it was."

Cruz then directed his ire at President Biden.

"Right now, the biggest human trafficker on the face of the planet is Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.," Cruz told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "He has transported hundreds of thousands, millions of illegal aliens populating them now, putting many of them in red states. He's happy to put them in red states where it's not the rich peoples' concerns, it's the little peoples' concerns."

Cruz explained that the residents of Texas border towns such as McAllen, Laredo, and Eagle Pass are "feeling the price" for the record flood of migrants across the U.S. southern border.

"And Biden still won't change. Instead, what does he do? He lies to the American people," Cruz continued. "He sends Karine Jean-Pierre out to claim nobody is crossing the border illegally. It's a flat out lie, and all of the docile little sheep in the press room, they baa like sheep, and they ignore the fact that she's lying to the American people. The media needs to cover her lies."

Cruz agreed with Democrat governors and mayors who have recently opened their eyes to the border crisis, but only after buses of illegal immigrants had been relocated into their areas.

\u201cThe biggest human trafficker on the face of the planet: Joe Biden.\u201d
— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz) 1663448520

Last week, Cruz provided a list of places for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to send migrants to next.

Cruz suggested illegal immigrants should be sent to Palo Alto, California; Nantucket, Massachusetts, and Biden's beach vacation home of Rehoboth, Delaware.

In April, Cruz suggested sending charter buses of illegal aliens to Washington, D.C.; Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts; Greenwich, Connecticut; Scarsdale, New York; and Newport, Rhode Island.

\u201cEXCELLENT ideas. @GregAbbott_TX \n\nBut Texas shouldn\u2019t ONLY send charter buses of illegal aliens to DC. I filed federal legislation to ALSO send them to:\n\n- Martha\u2019s Vinyard, MA\n- Nantucket, MA\n- Palo Alto, CA\n- Greenwich, CT\n- Scarsdale, NY\n- Newport, RI\n- Rehoboth Beach, DE\u201d
— Ted Cruz (@Ted Cruz) 1649280968

Texas Gov. Abbott sends 2 buses of illegal immigrants to Kamala Harris' Naval Observatory home in DC, days after VP promised 'the border is secure'



Two buses full of illegal immigrants were dropped off outside Vice President Kamala Harris' home at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bused approximately 100 migrants to the outside of the official residence of the vice president, Fox News reported. The migrants, who were picked up in the Texas border town of Eagle Pass, were originally from Venezuela, Uruguay, Colombia, and Mexico.

Wilder Alberto Pinto Sosa, a migrant who traveled from Venezuela with his 1-year-old son, told DC News Now reporter Lex Juarez that he has been treated with dignity and respect since arriving in the United States. He said his experience in the U.S. has been "much better than any other country I’ve passed through."

Juarez reported, "The group is heading to a local church to be fed and connected to resources to help them get to their final destinations."

\u201cThe group is heading to a local church to be fed and connected to resources to help them get to their final destinations.\n\nThe volunteers here to help said they were at Union Station waiting for the buses since 6 am, and didn\u2019t know the Naval Observatory was the drop off.\u201d
— Lex Juarez (@Lex Juarez) 1663243996

An illegal immigrant outside Harris' home at the Naval Observatory reported told Fox News national correspondent Griff Jenkins that he believes the U.S. southern border is "open."

"The border is open. Everybody believes that the border is open," a Venezuelan man told Fox News. "It's open because we enter. We come in, free, no problem."

When asked how the migrants came into the U.S., he added, "We came illegally.”

\u201cBREAKING: Two buses of 101 migrants mostly from Venezuela arrive outside @VP Harris house in DC sent by @GregAbbott_TX - one migrant telling me he believes the border is \u201copen\u201d @FoxNews\u201d
— Griff Jenkins (@Griff Jenkins) 1663242542
\u201cReporter: \u201cHarris said that the border is closed. Is the border closed?\u201d\n\nIllegal Immigrant: \u201cThe border is open\u2026everybody believes that the border is open. It\u2019s open because we enter. We come in, free, no problem\u2026We came illegally.\u201d\u201d
— RNC Research (@RNC Research) 1663246558

On Sunday, Harris proclaimed that the U.S.-Mexico border is "secure."

"The border is secure, but we also have a broken immigration system, in particular, over the last four years before we came in, and it needs to be fixed," Harris told "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd.

Todd questioned Harris about the record-high 2 million migrant encounters that have already occurred this fiscal year.

Harris – President Joe Biden's border czar – reiterated, "We have a secure border in that that is a priority for any nation, including ours and our administration."'

She again blamed the Trump administration for the border crisis: "But there are still a lot of problems that we are trying to fix given the deterioration that happened over the last four years."

Harris added, "We also have to put into place a law and a plan for a pathway for citizenship for the millions of people who are here and are prepared to do what is legally required to gain citizenship."

Harris accused Abbott and other Republicans of "playing politics" with the issue of immigration.

\u201cWATCH: The U.S. will have 2 million people cross its border for the first time. \n\n@VP Harris: \u201cWe have a secure border in that that is a priority. \u2026 But there are still a lot of problems that we are trying to fix given the deterioration that happened over the last four years.\u201d\u201d
— Meet the Press (@Meet the Press) 1662985245

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had no idea that the buses were coming, according to her office.

Previously, Bowser responded to migrants who were shipped from Texas to Washington, D.C., by declaring a state of emergency last week and launching a $10 million Office of Migrant Services. Last month, the Democratic mayor requested that the D.C. National Guard be activated to tackle the influx of illegal aliens, but was denied by the Pentagon.

Since April, Texas has sent approximately 10,000 migrants to Washington, D.C. Texas has sent migrants to other self-declared sanctuary cities, such as Chicago and New York City.

On Wednesday, Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent two planes full of illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard.

'Go ahead, mayor, make my day': Gov. Abbott hits back after NYC mayor threatens political interference



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded today to New York City Mayor Eric Adams' threat to send "bus loads of New Yorkers" down to Texas to campaign against him. Abbott told Fox News "I kind of feel like Clint Eastwood. Go ahead, mayor, make my day."

The Texas governor suggested that there "could hardly be anything better to aid my campaign against Beto O'Rourke than to have Beto O'Rourke have his campaign aided by a bunch of New Yorkers. That will not be viewed very positively in the state of Texas."

\u201cGovernor @GregAbbott_TX on Mayor Adams' threat to come to Texas & campaign against him:\n\n"Go ahead, Mayor. Make my day."\u201d
— Texans for Abbott (@Texans for Abbott) 1660152224

Abbott noted further that ⁠— ahead of the Texas gubernatorial election on November 8 ⁠— O'Rourke may already face perception problems in the state after it was revealed in July that he received a $1 million donation from George Soros.

Recent polling data shows Abbott leading O'Rourke by at least five points.

Since April, Abbott has bused over 6,500 illegal aliens to Washington, D.C., a so called "sanctuary city," and has recently begun to send illegals to New York City, also a Democrat-proclaimed "sanctuary city," wherein officials allege to have been inundated with over 4,000 asylum-seekers.

The aim of this initiative is to confront northern open-border advocates with the results of their policies while also easing the burden on Texas border communities.

Regarding Adam's reception of these illegals, Abbott said in a statement: "I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief.”

\u201c"We should protect our immigrants." Period.\n\nYes, New York City will remain a sanctuary city under an Adams administration. #EricOnNBC\u201d
— Eric Adams (@Eric Adams) 1634772632

On August 10, Abbott also underlined the disconnect between the invitations previously extended by Democrats to illegal aliens and their shifting moods: "Now once they have to deal with the reality of it, they're suddenly flummoxed, and they cannot handle it."

Within hours of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's denial of support by the Pentagon, Adams similarly reached out to the federal government for "money, technical assistance and more" to deal with the sudden influx of illegal aliens.

Media suddenly remembers how WALLS WORK after Biden agrees to complete part of Trump’s border wall



On direct orders from President Joe Biden, the Department of Homeland Security has released 79,652 migrants into the United States in just the last month after they were detained for illegally crossing the southern border. This brings the total number of illegals that have been caught and released into the United States on Biden's watch to 1.335 million people.

"At this pace, the ones that we catch and release — not the ones that we didn't catch — [will total] 3.5 million illegal immigrants in the United States in [Biden's] first term," said Glenn Beck on the radio program.


Biden’s border crisis is getting EVEN WORSE | #shortsyoutu.be

Perhaps these shocking statistics had something to do with the Biden administration's quiet approval of a plan to complete a portion of former President Donald Trump's border wall in southern Arizona.

On Thursday, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas authorized the completion of the U.S.- Mexico border wall in Arizona’s "Yuma Sector," despite Biden's oft-repeated promise that "not another foot" of Trump's wall would be constructed while he is president.

A Department of Homeland Security announcement cited "immediate life and safety risks" for migrants attempting to cross into the United States illegally as well as the first responders and agents working in the area "where there is a risk of drownings and injuries from falls."

Interestingly, mainstream media outlets seem to have suddenly seen the light when it comes to the actual function of a wall. Yes, walls provide security and help keep people safe. Biden's border walls "will better protect migrants who can get hurt slipping down a slope or drown walking through a low section of the Colorado River," according to NBC News.

But people on social media noticed more than a slight discrepancy in the way news about the border wall was framed under President Trump.

In 2020, NBC News said "President Trump's border wall endangered ecosystems and sacred sites." But on Friday, they said closing the gaps in the wall "won’t be much of a deterrent," according to Arizona environmentalist Myles Traphagen who has been "mapping ecological damage left by border wall construction" under former President Trump.

\u201c@NBCNews Quite the different framing here.\u201d
— NBC News (@NBC News) 1659074282

"Biden had pledged during his campaign to cease all future wall construction, but the administration later agreed to some barriers, citing safety," AP News reported.

\u201cLmao, did you know your vote for Biden was vote to finish building the wall too? \n\nUS to fill border wall gaps at open area near Yuma, Arizona | AP News https://t.co/JNzbDfFmJn\u201d
— Justin (@Justin) 1659103724

"In addition to posing 'safety and life hazard risks for migrants,' the [D]epartment [of Homeland Security] said the gaps in the wall presented 'life and safety' risks to first responders in the area," reported CNN.

\u201c@CNN The way she\u2019s twisting herself into knots here is just sad. \n\nhttps://t.co/XoJ7r0WiiE\u201d
— CNN (@CNN) 1659123066

"Completion of the wall was at the top of former President Donald Trump’s agenda, and border security remains a potent issue for candidates of both parties going into this year’s primary elections. President Joe Biden halted new wall construction after he took office, but he has since made closing the gaps just south of Yuma a priority," said NBC News.

\u201cA couple of bold governors, like @GregAbbott_TX, gave liberal cities just a small taste of what the out of control border crisis feels like for us border states and months later, @JoeBiden started building the wall.\n\nJust amazing.\n\nhttps://t.co/HNUgAQrHkd\u201d
— Jason Howerton (@Jason Howerton) 1659103903
\u201cThe Biden Administration just quietly approved construction of a border wall near Yuma, AZ.\n\nRemember when Biden attacked Trump over the wall?\n\nWalls work!\u201d
— Ryan Fournier (@Ryan Fournier) 1659106984
\u201cSo the Biden Admin has decided to finish the Trump border wall in Arizona\u2026even after they said walls are racist and walls don\u2019t work. \ud83e\udd23\u201d
— Hodgetwins (@Hodgetwins) 1659094508

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After unsuccessful Senate and White House bids, Democrat Beto O'Rourke announces run for Texas governorship



Beto O'Rourke, who has previously mounted unsuccessful campaigns for the U.S. Senate and the White House, has now announced his Texas gubernatorial bid.

O'Rourke served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from early 2013 until early 2019. He failed to defeat incumbent GOP Sen. Ted Cruz during the 2018 senatorial contest. Then in 2019, O'Rourke pursued a presidential bid, but he dropped out later that year.

If O'Rourke successfully clinches the Democratic nomination to run for governor, winning a general election would likely prove to be a difficult task since Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in the state since 1990.

Former President Donald Trump won the state during the 2020 presidential election contest, continuing a long-time Republican winning streak — but the last time a Democrat took Texas during a presidential contest was more than four decades ago in 1976.

"Bring it," Lone Star State Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted. The Republican governor said that O'Rourke desires to "defund the police," "kill good paying oil & gas jobs," "allow chaotic open border policies," "support the failing Biden agenda," "impose socialism," and "take your guns."

Abbott has served as the state's governor since early 2015.

Beto wants to:\n- defund the police\n- kill good paying oil & gas jobs\n- allow chaotic open border policies \n- support the failing Biden agenda\n- impose socialism\n- take your guns. \n\nBring it.

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) 1636990960

"Most of us understand the responsibility that comes with owning a firearm, and we will vigorously protect that Second Amendment right and also protect the lives of those around us," O'Rourke told The Texas Tribune. "But I think most of us also understand that we should not have military-style weapons used against our fellow Texans. We have four of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history right here in Texas that took place over the last five years."

During his presidential bid, O'Rourke advocated for a mandatory government buyback program for some firearms.

"Hell yes, we're gonna take your AR-15, your AK-47," O'Rourke said in 2019.

Hell yeah, we're going to take your AR-15. If it's a weapon that was designed to kill people on the battlefield, we're going to buy it back.pic.twitter.com/cCEWkG6y0X

— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) 1568338011

DeSantis says 'we have to protect the jobs,' vows to sue Biden over vaccine mandate: 'You are trying to plunge people into destitution'



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hammered President Joe Biden this week over the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The Republican governor of Florida vowed to sue the Biden administration over the vaccine mandate, and proclaimed that it is "fundamentally wrong to be taking people's jobs away," especially after they worked during the deadly pandemic.

"Let's not have Biden come in and effectively take away — threaten to take away — the jobs of people who have been working hard throughout this entire pandemic," DeSantis said during a Thursday press conference on monoclonal antibody treatments in Fort Myers, Florida. "I am offended that a police officer could potentially lose their job."

DeSantis maintained, "We have a responsibility at the state level to do whatever we need to do to protect Floridians from mandates that could result in them losing their jobs. We have to protect the jobs of Floridians."

DeSantis highlighted the health care workers who worked on the frontlines during the pandemic — the same workers that Biden previously called "heroes" — who would lose their jobs because of Biden's vaccine mandate.

"I just think its fundamentally wrong to be taking people's jobs away particularly given the situation that we see ourselves facing with the economy where you need people in a lot of these key areas," DeSantis remarked. "What's going to happen with these hospitals if these mandates are allowed to go in, where they already need more nurses?"

At another news conference on Friday, DeSantis continued to skewer Biden's vaccine mandate. DeSantis picked apart Biden's comments from this week, where the president said the vaccine mandates shouldn't "divide us."

Biden said on Thursday, "Let's be clear: Vaccination requirements should not be another issue that divides us. That's why we continue to battle the misinformation that's out there and companies and communities are stepping up as well to combat this misinformation."

DeSantis postured that taking away people's livelihood ignites divisiveness.

The Florida governor asserted, "Just think of Biden, he says, 'Don't make the vaccines divisive.' Don't make the vaccines divisive? You are trying to take peoples' jobs away over this issue. You are trying to plunge people into destitution."

"You are taking away their livelihoods. Nobody else is doing that. You are the one that's being divisive about this," he stated.

NOW - Florida's Gov. DeSantis accuses Biden to divide the country through vaccine mandates.https://t.co/C6U7ur3LoS

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) 1634318694.0

"No one should lose their job over these shots," DeSantis stated. "I think we want to protect people's jobs. These are folks that have been working throughout this whole time. They were put in situations where they were exposing themselves to risks knowingly to help others, and they did that, and we considered them heroes just a year ago. Now you're going to let them go by the wayside?"

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on opposing Biden's mandate: "No one should lose their job over these shots. I think we w… https://t.co/z5P2skviqU

— The Hill (@thehill) 1634396460.0

DeSantis pledged to sue the Biden administration over a forthcoming rule requiring private businesses with 100 workers or more to force their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration-enforced rule would reportedly affect more than 130,000 U.S. businesses and apply to roughly two-thirds of the private sector workforce.

"We are going to contest that immediately. We think the state of Florida has standing to do it and we also know businesses that we're going to work with to contest it," DeSantis said. "I think the mandate is going lose in court."

DeSantis said that Florida-based lawsuits against federal vaccine mandates will be filed in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Monday that prohibits mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations in the Lone Star State.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," Abbott said in a statement.

On Tuesday, the White House stressed that the Biden administration would push for a nationwide vaccine mandate despite Texas and Florida opposing them.

"These requirements are promulgated by federal law, so when the president announced his vaccine mandates for businesses — that, of course, we're waiting on OSHA regulations for as a next step — that was pursuant to federal law," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

"Our intention is to implement and continue to work to implement these requirements across the country, including in the states where there are attempts to oppose them," she added.

"Governor Abbott's executive order banning mandates and, I would also note, the announcement by Gov. DeSantis this morning essentially banning the implementation of mandates, fit a familiar pattern that we've seen of putting politics ahead of public health," Psaki claimed.

Psaki on TX Gov. @GregAbbott_TX and FL Gov. @RonDeSantisFL banning vaccine mandates:"Our intention is to implemen… https://t.co/YaDh6tnaB1

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) 1634063064.0

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issues order prohibiting mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for those who object



Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order that prohibits entities in the Lone Star State from forcing individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they object to vaccination on grounds of conscience, religious beliefs or medical reasons.

"No entity in Texas can compel receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine by any individual, including an employee or a consumer, who objects to such vaccination for any reason of personal conscience, based on a religious belief, or for medical reasons, including prior recovery from COVID-19," the order states.

"The maximum fine allowed under Section 418.173 of the Texas Government Code and the State's emergency management plan shall apply to any 'failure to comply with' this executive order. Confinement in jail is not an available penalty for violating this executive order," the order notes.

The GOP governor's move comes as the Biden administration plans to issue a rule requiring employers with 100 or more employees to make certain that workers are either fully vaccinated or that they furnish a weekly negative test if they are unvaccinated.

The governor wants the state legislature to pass legislation along the same lines as his order.

"Governor Abbott also sent a message to the the Chief Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate adding this issue as an item to the Third Special Session agenda. The executive order will be rescinded upon the passage of such legislation," according to a news release. The special session ends Oct. 19.

Abbott said that vaccination should be voluntary rather than compulsory.

"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe, effective, and our best defense against the virus, but should remain voluntary and never forced," Abbott said in a statement.

He had already prohibited vaccination mandates by state and local government entities, according to the Associated Press.

So far 62.73% of the state's population ages 12 and older has been fully vaccinated, while 72.54% has received at least one dose, according to the state's data.

I issued an Executive Order prohibiting vaccine mandates by ANY entity in Texas.I also added the issue to the Spe… https://t.co/ri5QNGSCml
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) 1633993229.0