Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a press conference on April 17, 2023. Picture: AP
For years, the governor of Florida has been taking political action against Disney. The reason: the alleged “wokeism” of the group. But as a possible presidential candidate, that could be dangerous for him.
Ron DeSantis hardly meant it when he said this week that you could build a prison — or a competing theme park — on the land surrounding the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando. Immediately struck the governor of Florida malice. One has to imagine the disappointment of the children when they heard that they were going to “DeSantis Land”, not Disney Land, the broadcaster CNN etched. In a dispute with the largest employer in his state, the pressure on the Republican is increasing. Even from the ranks of their own party.
In a post for that Wall Street Journal DeSantis wrote in February that Disney had “publicly joined the agenda of the fringe left” and become a “partisan war machine.” Since his presidential candidacy is expected, DeSantis wants to use the topic all the more to distinguish himself in the culture war against the “wokeism” he criticized. But because there has been no success so far, despite harsh words, the governor has become the target of his domestic opponents.
Criticism from your own party
DeSanti’s efforts are a “political stunt,” wrote donald trump, his alleged opponent in this week’s domestic Republican presidential campaign on Truth Social. He will be “completely destroyed by Disney”. For DeSantis, the topic is not a sure-fire success among voters: Disney is not only a central part of Florida’s self-image and employs 75,000 people – the amusement parks are also extremely popular with the general public. So if DeSantis harms Disney, it could bring him negative points in the presidential election. In the event of a candidacy, in contrast to Trump, he is considered to be one on whom a broader mass of Republicans could agree.
The former governor of New Jersey also took this line, Chris Christie, which recently dished out against DeSantis. “I don’t think Ron DeSantis is conservative given his behavior towards Disney,” Christie said. Where do you get if a government in this country punishes you if you have a different opinion? “I always thought it was a liberal ploy and now suddenly a Republican governor is going along with it.”
Disney CEO halts political donations
DeSantis’ feud with Disney began during the coronavirus pandemic. In the summer of 2021, the company required all Orlando employees to be fully vaccinated. After a comparatively short lockdown, DeSantis had already become a freedom fighter and relaxed the rules in his state. At the time, he threatened Disney with fines. The escalation came last March. The governor signed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, which now bans teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in all public schools.
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The then Disney CEO, after being criticized for his silence, countered that all political donations in Florida would be halted. Including those that went to MPs who voted in favor of the bill. “You needed me as a strong ally and I failed you,” wrote Bob Chapek in a statement to the approximately 75,000 employees and the LGBTQ community. “I’m sorry for that.”
DeSantis’ action against Disney is based on the special status that the company, with its four theme parks in Florida, has enjoyed since the 1960s. This guarantees Disney extensive self-government of the 11,000 hectares. Instead, DeSantis wants the area to be overseen by a body he appoints. A corresponding law from March remains initially ineffective due to a legal trick by the entertainment company. Now DeSantis is trying to impose new taxes on Disney. However, these would probably only be passed on to visitors.