Governor urges Ave Maria graduates to defend the 'sacred fire of liberty'

The governor, speaking at Ave Maria University, urged graduates to defend the nations founding principles and to keep faith and reason central to civic life. He framed the call as part of the nations 250th anniversary and said students have a duty to preserve what he called the "sacred fire of liberty." "The truth is not subject to a popular vote," he said.

The governor praised Ave Maria as a "genuine" Catholic university that centers faith in campus life and lauded its "rigorous classical liberal arts education" as resistant to what he described as passing ideological fads. He said the universitys culture values moral virtues and noted the towns transformation from a tomato field to a close-knit community where "you are way more likely to run into a golf cart than you are a criminal."

Marking the nations 250th anniversary, the governor urged reflection on the founding generations sacrifices and the fragility of republics. Quoting Benjamin Franklin, he said, "A republic, if you can keep it," and argued each generation must defend institutions and the rule of law rather than expect them to run on autopilot.

The governor reviewed actions he credited to Florida, saying the state helped "preserve freedom during COVID," defended parents rights in education, and "became the number one state in the United States for religious liberty." Those statements were presented as the governors characterization of the states record.

Turning to technology, the governor warned graduates about information overload and emerging tools such as artificial intelligence. "Technology must enhance the human experience, not supplant the human experience," he said, and cautioned against being governed by "the almighty algorithm."

He urged graduates to serve the republic in many rolespublic office, the military, law enforcement, business, medicine, family life or community serviceand closed by saying his faith that they could preserve the republic remained firm. He concluded, "Congratulations, God bless you and God bless the United States of America," and left the stage to applause.