DeSantis Slams Biden For Vaccination Rule Barring Djokovic From Miami Open

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Tuesday blasted President Joe Biden for a rule preventing tennis superstar Novak Djokovic from participating in the upcoming Miami Open tournament without a COVID-19 vaccination.

Under the current requirements, the Serbian is not permitted to enter the country without the inoculation.

Guidance issued by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. immigrants must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before flying into the country, with limited exceptions.

The rule is set to expire in May, when the COVID-19 emergency declaration ends.

The Homeland Security Department reportedly rejected a waiver request from Djokovic to participate in two U.S. tennis tournaments this month: the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, and the Miami Open.

In a letter to Biden, DeSantis said Djokovics presence would benefit both the Florida tournament, which starts March 19, and the wider tennis community.

The only thing keeping Mr. Djokovic from participating in this tournament is your administrations continued enforcement of a misguided, unscientific, and out-of-date COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreign guests seeking to visit our great country, the governor wrote.

The only thing keeping Novak Djokovic from participating in the Miami Open tennis tournament is President Bidens misguided and unscientific COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreigner travelers.

Mr. President lift your restrictions and let him compete. pic.twitter.com/fFyhNoUV4S

Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 7, 2023","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Ron DeSantis","author_url":"https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis","cache_age":86400,"description":"The only thing keeping Novak Djokovic from participating in the Miami Open tennis tournament is President Bidens misguided and unscientific COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreigner travelers.Mr. President lift your restrictions and let him compete. pic.twitter.com/fFyhNoUV4S Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 7, 2023\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":1416,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fqppa2GWAAEQ8a2.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1133,"title":"Ron DeSantis on 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The only thing keeping Novak Djokovic from participating in the Miami Open tennis tournament is President Bidens misguided and unscientific COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreigner travelers.

Mr. President lift your restrictions and let him compete. pic.twitter.com/fFyhNoUV4S
Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 7, 2023

DeSantis, a likely 2024 GOP presidential candidate who once praised COVID-19 vaccines, has since turned into a skeptic, even calling for the prosecution of those promoting the lifesaving shots.

In January, he proposed permanently banning COVID-19 vaccination and mask mandates in his state.

The governor said Djokovics presence at the Miami tournament wouldnt constitute a public health risk.

Its time to put pandemic politics aside and give the American people what they wantlet him play, DeSantis wrote.

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He also asked Biden to confirm by Friday that the tennis player could instead take a trip to Florida by boat, arguing that the COVID-19 vaccination rule for non-U.S. citizens doesnt explicitly cover that transportation method.

This is not the first time Djokovic has made headlines for his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The worlds No.1 player was deported from Australia early last year after he lost a court case to allow him to stay for the Australian Open despite not meeting the countrys vaccination requirement.