Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Ron DeSantis

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Ron DeSantis.

Ron DeSantis is an American politician and the current Governor of Florida, serving since 2019. A Republican, he previously represented Florida's 6th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2018. Before entering politics, DeSantis served as a naval officer and worked as an attorney. He ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination but withdrew from the race in January 2024.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2006: DeSantis at Guantanamo Bay

In 2006, DeSantis arrived at Joint Task Force Guantanamo, working with detainees at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.

2013: Signed "No Climate Tax Pledge"

In 2013, DeSantis signed a "No Climate Tax Pledge" against any tax hikes to fight global warming and voted in favor of H.R. 45 to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

2015: Criticism of Obama's Immigration Policies

In 2015, DeSantis criticized Obama's immigration policies and co-sponsored Kate's Law to increase penalties for aliens who unlawfully reenter the U.S.

2016: Zero Rating from Human Rights Campaign

In 2016, DeSantis received a "0" rating from the Human Rights Campaign on LGBT-related legislation.

May 17, 2017: Initiation of Mueller Investigation

On May 17, 2017, DeSantis said that the order that initiated the Mueller investigation of President Trump "didn't identify a crime to be investigated".

June 2019: DeSantis signs anti-"sanctuary city" bill

In June 2019, Ron DeSantis signed an anti-"sanctuary city" bill into law, although Florida had no sanctuary cities before the law's enactment.

June 2020: DeSantis signs E-Verify bill

In June 2020, Ron DeSantis signed a bill requiring government employers and contractors to use E-Verify. This made Florida the 12th state to adopt legislation requiring local governments to aid federal immigration-enforcement efforts.

February 2, 2021: DeSantis announces support for legislation to hold tech companies accountable

On February 2, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced support for legislation aimed at preventing alleged political censorship by tech companies. This was in response to social media networks removing Trump from their platforms. The proposed legislation sought to prohibit tech companies from de-platforming political candidates in Florida.

April 2021: DeSantis signs Combating Public Disorder Act

In April 2021, Ron DeSantis signed into law the Combating Public Disorder Act. The anti-riot statute forbade intimidation by mobs, penalized damage to historic properties or memorials, and forbade publishing personal identifying information online with intent to harm.

June 1, 2021: DeSantis signs Fairness in Women's Sports Act

On June 1, 2021, Ron DeSantis signed the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (SB 1028). This law bans transgender girls and women from participating in middle-school, high-school, and college women's sports competitions, taking effect on July 1.

June 2021: Led effort to ban teaching of critical race theory

In June 2021, Ron DeSantis led an effort to ban the teaching of critical race theory in Florida public schools, describing it as "teaching kids to hate their country."

December 15, 2021: Announced the Stop WOKE Act

On December 15, 2021, Ron DeSantis announced a new bill, the Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act ("Stop WOKE Act"), which would allow parents to sue school districts that teach critical race theory.

2021: DeSantis halts cooperation with Biden administration on migrant resettlement

In 2021, Ron DeSantis halted cooperation with the Biden administration's program to relocate and resettle migrants in Florida. DeSantis's administration also allocated $12 million for relocating migrants to other states.

February 2022: DeSantis voices support for "Don't Say Gay" law

In February 2022, Ron DeSantis voiced his support for the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act (HB1557), commonly known as the "Don't Say Gay" law. This act prohibits discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in school classrooms from kindergarten to grade 3.

March 2022: DeSantis signs "Don't Say Gay" law

In March 2022, Ron DeSantis signed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" law, into law. The statute includes a provision requiring school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her well-being with his or her parent.

April 14, 2022: Signed 15-week abortion ban into law

On April 14, 2022, Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy in Florida, with limited exceptions.

April 2022: DeSantis eliminates Disney's special district

In April 2022, Ron DeSantis signed a bill eliminating The Walt Disney Company's special independent district act and replacing its Disney-appointed board of overseers, escalating a dispute that began after Disney called for the repeal of the "Don't Say Gay" law.

September 2022: DeSantis sends migrants to Martha's Vineyard

In September 2022, Ron DeSantis sent 50 newly arrived asylum seekers, mostly from Venezuela, from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, via chartered planes. This action led to a class-action suit against DeSantis.

2022: Allegations of Overseeing Force-Feeding at Guantanamo

In 2022, Mansur Ahmad Saad al-Dayfi alleged that DeSantis oversaw force-feeding detainees at Guantanamo, which DeSantis acknowledged advising on.

2022: DeSantis creates election police unit

In 2022, Ron DeSantis signed a bill creating an election police unit to investigate election fraud.

March 2023: Consideration of further "Don't Say Gay" legislation

As of March 2023, Ron DeSantis was considering further similar legislation to the "Don't Say Gay" law for all grades.

April 2023: DeSantis signs six-week abortion ban

In April 2023, Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. The legislation allows exceptions up to 15 weeks for pregnancies resulting from rape, incest, or human trafficking, provided the woman offers proof of the crime. It also makes providing an abortion a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, bans telemedicine for abortion, and limits the availability of medication abortion.

April 26, 2023: Disney files suit against DeSantis

On April 26, 2023, The Walt Disney Company filed a lawsuit against Ron DeSantis and others, accusing them of retaliating against protected speech after Disney called for the repeal of the Parental Rights in Education Act.

January 31, 2024: Dismissal of Disney's lawsuit

On January 31, 2024, Disney's lawsuit against DeSantis was dismissed, though Disney vowed to appeal.

March 27, 2024: Disney settles state court lawsuits with DeSantis

On March 27, 2024, Disney settled its pending state court lawsuits with Ron DeSantis. As part of the agreement, Disney put its appeal of the federal lawsuit on hold while a new development agreement with Florida was negotiated. This settlement occurred after DeSantis replaced two Disney critics on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District with two Disney supporters and shortly after a court largely overturned The Parental Rights in Education Act.

April 1, 2024: Florida Supreme Court upholds 15-week abortion ban

On April 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week abortion ban, which led to a six-week ban going into effect on May 1, 2024. The original bill allows abortions up to 15 weeks in cases of rape, incest, or human trafficking (with proof), makes providing an abortion a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, bans telemedicine for abortion, and limits the availability of medication abortion.

May 1, 2024: Six-week abortion ban takes effect

On May 1, 2024, Florida's six-week abortion ban went into effect after the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week ban on April 1, 2024. The bill outlaws abortion at six weeks, contains exceptions for up to 15 weeks in cases of rape, incest, or human trafficking with proof of a crime required, makes providing an abortion a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, bans telemedicine for abortion, and limits the availability of medication abortion.

June 2024: DeSantis vetoes waterway safety bill

In June 2024, Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill passed by the State House that would have created a statewide process managed by the Department of Health to issue closures and send warnings if the bacteria in waterways reached unsafe levels.

September 2024: DeSantis defends visits to homes of abortion rights ballot initiative signers

At a press event in September 2024, Ron DeSantis defended the election police unit's visits to the homes of Florida voters who had signed an abortion rights ballot initiative.

2024: Social Media restrictions for minors

In 2024, Ron Desantis signed a law requiring social media platforms to prohibit individuals under the age of 16 from creating accounts. This law faced criticism from digital rights organizations like Netchoice, who argued it infringes on First Amendment rights by requiring Floridians to hand over sensitive personal information or lose access to critical information channels.