(UnitedVoice.com) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is widely seen as a top contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. He’s well-liked among GOP voters for his take-no-prisoners approach to politics — much the same way former President Donald Trump operates.
As much as the Republican Party likes DeSantis, he’s facing backlash for his handling of a year-long disagreement with Disney. Some members of his party are coming out and criticizing him for it, including former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
An Offer Extended
On Wednesday, April 26, Disney filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and other Florida officials. The company claims the governor and lawmakers are waging a “targeted campaign of government retaliation” after the former CEO disagreed with a bill passed in the state.
Haley appeared on Fox News to discuss the ongoing feud between DeSantis and America’s favorite mouse. She told the hosts of “America Reports” that when she was governor of South Carolina, she reduced the unemployment rate and formed partnerships with businesses. The GOP candidate went on to say her state is “anti-woke,” but she would welcome the multi-billion dollar corporation’s jobs and revenue.
In a Twitter post, Haley shared a clip of her interview and said that while her state isn’t “woke,” it’s also “not sanctimonious.” She spoke to Disney and mentioned South Carolina has “great weather [and] great people.”
Hey @Disney, my home state will happily accept your 70,000+ jobs if you want to leave Florida.
We’ve got great weather, great people, and it’s always a great day in South Carolina!
SC’s not woke, but we’re not sanctimonious about it either. pic.twitter.com/uf1PWQjGc5
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) April 26, 2023
In response to the former governor’s remarks, the super PAC that supports DeSantis released an ad highlighting Disney’s acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community and dubbed her “Mickey Haley.”
Mickey Haley! pic.twitter.com/NpVXgpYIxZ
— Never Back Down (@NvrBackDown24) April 26, 2023
Haley Is Not Alone
Former President Donald Trump has also attacked DeSantis for his fight with Disney. The Palm Beach Post reported Trump posted about it prior to the lawsuit, saying the company’s “next move” would likely be to suspend its investments in the Sunshine State because of the governor’s actions. He cautioned the entertainment giant might even decide on a “slow withdrawal or sale of certain properties, or the whole thing.” He went on to say it’s all a “political STUNT!”
POLITICO reported former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) said he doesn’t believe America wants DeSantis sitting across from Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping if he “can’t see around the corner” Disney’s CEO created for him. He went on to say the governor’s actions towards the company are not “conservative.”
A Reuters/Ipsos Poll found that overall, 64% of Americans believe DeSantis is targeting Disney for exercising its First Amendment rights. However, 64% of Republicans believe the governor is doing the right thing by rolling back the company’s special privileges.
Copyright 2023, UnitedVoice.com
