Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faces criticism from fellow Republicans over his feud with Disney, as his would-be rivals for the White House see an opportunity to berate him for flouting traditional conservative values.
Former President Donald J. Trump this week called the governor’s efforts a “political stunt” and said Mr. DeSantis was being outplayed by the company.
“DeSanctus is absolutely destroyed by Disney,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his media site, on Tuesday, using a disparaging nickname for the governor. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also chimed in, suggesting that Mr. DeSantis’ speech about punishing a corporation went against small-government principles.
“I don’t think Ron DeSantis is conservative based on actions against Disney,” he said Tuesday at an event hosted by news outlet Semafor. “Where are we going now, if you don’t agree with this country, the government is going to punish you now? To me, that’s what I always thought liberals did, and now all of a sudden we’re in on this with a Republican governor.
The criticism reflects a growing effort by Mr. Trump and other potential candidates to try to undermine Mr. DeSantis’ core argument for the nomination: that he is the most likely Republican to win the general election. Advisers to Mr. Trump and other possible rivals believe moves such as going after Disney will be detrimental in a general election, if not necessarily in the GOP primary.
Understand the DeSantis-Disney Rift
In fact, some Republican strategists argued that the move risked scaring off the party’s primary voters, saying they were confused by Mr. DeSantis’ decision to delve into the fight against a company with broad appeal and considerable resources to fight back.
The dispute between Mr. DeSantis and Disney — Florida’s largest private employer and taxpayer — began when company officials criticized a bill Mr. DeSantis signed last year. The law, which critics called a “Don’t Say Gay” law, curtails education and discussion about gender and sexuality in some elementary school classes. (It was expanded to all grades on Wednesday, including high school.)
In response to the criticism, Mr. DeSantis decided to exert more control over the company through a district council, but company officials quietly found a way to strip that council of power. DeSantis has since moved to try to regain control, and has floated the possibility of imposing new taxes on Disney – which would most likely be passed on to people using Disney’s park – and building a state prison nearby.
A spokesman for the governor said Mr. DeSantis believed Disney had “an unfair special advantage” over other companies in the state.
“Good and limited government (and indeed principled conservatism) diminishes special privileges, promotes a level playing field for businesses and supports the will of the people,” said Bryan Griffin, the governor’s press secretary.
In his post, Mr. Trump suggested that the threats could backfire and that the company could respond by pulling out of Florida. “Watch!” He wrote. “That would be a clincher. In the meantime this is all so unnecessary, a political STUNT!”
The former president himself has never shied away from attacking companies he doesn’t like.
Despite a steady stream of criticism from fellow Republicans — former Vice President Mike Pence, who is considering a campaign of his own, rebuked Mr. DeSantis on the issue in February — it’s not clear that Mr. DeSantis’ actions have him uniformly on the right. have hurt. .
The editors of the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday night criticized the governor for feuding with Disney, but took issue with Mr Trump for his attack.
“You’d think the former president would be critical of Disney’s waking turn, but his only abiding political conviction is personal benefit,” the board wrote.
