DeSantis backs Tuberville on military holds, denounces Pentagon abortion policy

As lawmakers fight over how to move forward, the GOP presidential candidate wants his party to dig in.

“Our group of Republicans in the Congress should just take a stand on this. The DOD should stand down,” he said. “We have all these other problems in our military. We need more ammunition, we need more recruiting, we need all these other things and yet they’re focusing on abortion tourism.”

On Tuesday, DeSantis voiced his intentions to “rip the woke” out of the military if he becomes president, with promises to cut diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and banning race and gender quotas as well as drag shows on bases. The Biden administration criticized his campaign for the remarks shortly after.

“If Ron DeSantis actually cared about the military, he would call on Sen. Tuberville to stop the unprecedented damage he’s doing to the armed forces and military families every day by blockading of hundreds of military nominations and promotions,” Biden campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz told ABC News.

DeSantis has solidified himself as a staunch anti-abortion advocate, signing a six-week ban in Florida, but has not committed to supporting a nationwide extension of that ban if he were president.

“I think that in states where you have had the ability to make improvements, and to add pro-life protections, I applaud states that have done that,” DeSantis told Fox News in a pre-recorded interview aired Thursday. “But we have a big diverse country. I acknowledge that … I think you’re going to see some differences.”

Andrew Zhang contributed to this report.