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 who has served as the 46th governor of Florida 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 was an attorney and served as a naval officer. He sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, but withdrew from the race in January of that year.

Sections (6)

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

2013: Signs "No Climate Tax Pledge"

In 2013, DeSantis signed a "No Climate Tax Pledge" against any tax hikes to fight global warming.

2016: Rating from the Human Rights Campaign

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

May 17, 2017: Comments on Mueller Investigation

On May 17, 2017, DeSantis commented that the order that initiated the probe "didn't identify a crime to be investigated" and was likely to start a fishing expedition.

June 2019: DeSantis signed anti-"sanctuary city" bill into law

In June 2019, DeSantis signed an anti-"sanctuary city" bill into law. Florida had no sanctuary cities before the law's enactment, and immigration advocates called the bill politically motivated.

2020: Investigated Bloomberg's Voter Initiative

In 2020, DeSantis instructed Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to investigate whether Michael Bloomberg had criminally offered incentives for felons to vote in the 2020 presidential election in Florida. No wrongdoing was found.

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

On February 2, 2021, DeSantis announced his support for legislation aimed at holding tech companies accountable to prevent alleged political censorship. This action was a 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.

February 2021: Supported Eliminating Ballot Drop Boxes

In February 2021, DeSantis announced his support for eliminating ballot drop boxes and limiting voting by mail by requiring voters to re-register every year to vote by mail.

April 2021: DeSantis signed Combating Public Disorder Act into law

In April 2021, DeSantis signed into law the Combating Public Disorder Act he had been advocating. 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 signed Fairness in Women's Sports Act

On June 1, 2021, DeSantis signed the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (SB 1028) into law. The act bans transgender girls and women from participating and competing in middle-school, high-school girls', and college women's sports competitions.

June 2021: Banned Teaching of Critical Race Theory

In June 2021, DeSantis spearheaded an effort to ban the teaching of critical race theory in Florida public schools, which was approved by the Florida Board of Education on June 10.

December 15, 2021: Announced Stop WOKE Act

On December 15, 2021, DeSantis announced 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.

April 14, 2022: Signed 15-Week Abortion Ban

On April 14, 2022, DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, including exceptions to avert "serious risk" to the pregnant woman's physical health or if there is a "fatal fetal abnormality".

August 18, 2022: Federal Judge Blocked Enforcement of Stop WOKE Act

On August 18, 2022, a federal judge blocked enforcement of the Stop WOKE Act as applied to businesses, citing violations of the First Amendment.

2022: Controversial "Monkey This Up" Comment

In 2022, Dexter Filkins, writing in The New Yorker, described DeSantis's comment following his primary win as a "disastrous gaffe." The comment was interpreted by some as a racist dog whistle.

2022: Allegations Regarding Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp

In 2022, Mansur Ahmad Saad al-Dayfi, a former detainee, alleged that DeSantis oversaw force-feeding detainees at Guantanamo Bay. DeSantis acknowledged advising the base commander on the use of force-feeding.

April 2023: Signed Six-Week Abortion Ban

In April 2023, DeSantis signed a six-week abortion ban into law with exceptions for rape, incest, or human trafficking with proof of a crime. The bill will make providing an abortion a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

April 26, 2023: Disney filed suit against DeSantis

On April 26, 2023, The Walt Disney Company filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and several others, accusing them of retaliating against protected speech.

January 31, 2024: Lawsuit dismissed, Disney vows to appeal

On January 31, 2024, Disney's lawsuit against DeSantis was dismissed, with Disney vowing to appeal the decision.

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

On March 27, 2024, Disney settled its pending state court lawsuits with DeSantis. Per the agreement, Disney put the appeal of its federal lawsuit on hold while a new development agreement with Florida was negotiated. But no alterations to Disney's appeal of the federal lawsuit were made. The settlement came a day after DeSantis replaced two Disney critics on the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District with two Disney supporters and two weeks after a court largely overturned The Parental Rights in Education Act.

April 1, 2024: Supreme Court Upheld 15-Week Ban

On April 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week abortion ban, paving the way for the six-week ban signed in April 2023 to go into effect.

May 1, 2024: Six-Week Abortion Ban Went into Effect

On May 1, 2024, the six-week abortion ban, signed in April 2023, went into effect after the Supreme Court of Florida upheld the 15-week ban on April 1, 2024.

June 2024: DeSantis vetoed waterways monitoring bill

In June 2024, 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 defended election police unit's visits to voters

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

May 20, 2025: State Attorney opened criminal investigation into allegations of money laundering and wire fraud.

On May 20, 2025, State Attorney Jack Campbell opened a criminal investigation into the allegations of money laundering and wire fraud regarding DeSantis's former chief of staff.