Miami City Commissioner Sabina Covo experienced a moment of uncertainty during her first public meeting as she was asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and went blank.
In her first meeting as Miami City District 2 Commissioner, Sabina Covo, a Democrat, faced an awkward moment as she was asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance but was unable to recite it,” according to a recent report.
“And now, Commissioner Covo, will you lead us in the pledge of allegiance, please?” she was asked. “You don’t know it? Ok,” the commission’s chairwoman whispered to Covo.
During the meeting on March 9, Covo went blank after being asked to recite the pledge in front of the room. “And now, Commissioner Covo, will you lead us in the pledge of allegiance, please?” she was asked. “You don’t know it? Ok,” the commission’s chairwoman whispered to Covo.
Just when you thought you’ve seen it all…
Florida Democrat Sabina Covo doesn’t know the Pledge of Allegiance.
Alarming.
 pic.twitter.com/v24pEbAO7H— Florida GOP (@FloridaGOP) March 10, 2023
The incident raises questions about Covo’s familiarity with American customs and traditions and her readiness for the role as Miami City Commissioner.
As Covo struggled to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, there were several seconds of silence before the attendees and the commission’s chairwoman intervened and recited it on her behalf.
After the video of the incident gained traction on social media, Covo issued a statement explaining her difficulty reciting the pledge. “I was nervous and could not recite the pledge,” she said in the statement. The incident has raised questions about her preparedness for the role of Miami City Commissioner and her level of familiarity with American customs and traditions.
In response to the attention on social media, Covo released a statement acknowledging her nervousness during the meeting. “When you feel a responsibility is that important, nervousness is very normal, and I’m not afraid to admit that I was,” she wrote.
Despite the attention on her pledge mishap, Covo remains focused on her duties as a Miami City Commissioner. In her statement, she emphasized her commitment to serving her community and passing important legislation, including a bill that would provide affordable housing to foster youth. “That’s leading through the very words in our Pledge of Allegiance and our promise to lead with ethics and integrity,” she wrote. Covo’s statement highlights her determination to move past the incident and focus on her responsibilities as an elected official.
Following the video of Sabina Covo struggling to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, the Florida GOP responded on Twitter with a critical post. “Just when you thought you’ve seen it all… Florida Democrat Sabina Covo doesn’t know the Pledge of Allegiance,” the state GOP account wrote. The post has garnered attention and raised questions about Covo’s qualifications for the role of Miami City Commissioner.
“Just when you thought you’ve seen it all… Florida Democrat Sabina Covo doesn’t know the Pledge of Allegiance,” the state GOP account wrote.
The response from the Florida GOP highlights the political tensions between Democrats and Republicans in the state and the intense scrutiny that politicians face in the age of social media. While the incident has been embarrassing for Covo, it remains to be seen whether it will have any lasting impact on her career or her ability to represent her constituents effectively.
Miami City District 2 Commissioner Sabina Covo, 43, was born in Medellin, Colombia and won her election with 1,861 ballots, representing 30% of the vote, according to Florida Politics. With decades of experience in television reporting and journalism, Covo has a strong background in media.
Covo’s campaign was endorsed by Nikki Fried, who ran for governor in the Democratic primary but was not successful. Covo had previously worked for Fried as the director of Hispanic media relations at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Despite the recent attention on her Pledge of Allegiance mishap, Covo’s impressive qualifications and experience in media and government suggest that she is capable of fulfilling her role as Miami City Commissioner effectively.
