The Disney Corporation is retaliating against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis—by taking the governor to court for what it calls a “targeted campaign of government retaliation.”
Key Details
- Disney filed a 74-page civil complaint in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, Florida, on Wednesday against the governor’s office.
- The company alleges that DeSantis “targeted campaign of government retaliation” against the corporation, potentially costing it billions of dollars and punishing it for its political speech.
- Disney says it reluctantly filed the complaint after exhausting other methods of resolution, saying it needs to protect its park and workers from “a relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney.”
Why It’s Important
Governor DeSantis has continued feuding with the state’s largest employer since March 2022, with the governor retaliating against the corporation’s attacks on his “anti-woke” legislation. The governor has repeatedly threatened to undermine the corporation and remove some of its special legal designations—removing the corporation’s status as municipal authority over the theme parks.
“This government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional,” says Disney.
DeSantis’s communications director Taryn Fenske responded to the lawsuit by arguing that the lawsuit was Disney’s attempt “to undermine the will of the Florida voters and operate outside the bounds of the law” and arguing that corporations do not preside over legal rights to operate as autonomous government entities.
Backing Up A Bit
The fresh hostilities between Disney and DeSantis have emerged amid troubles for the governor. He is in the early stages of launching an exploratory committee for a presidential run. He has spent the past month traveling to meet governors and foreign diplomats in the leadup for an expected announcement within the next two months.
Following former President Donald Trump’s indictment on March 30, DeSantis’s status as a leading potential runner in the 2024 presidential race has decreased as vocal support for the former president increased among enthusiastic supporters.
FiveThirtyEight reports that Trump leads DeSantis 49.3% to 26.2%. The Wall Street Journal reports that DeSantis held a 52% to 38% lead in December, which swapped to 38% to 51% by April 21. Some analysts expect DeSantis’ poll numbers to settle after the initial indictment. One Journal poll found DeSantis held a greater chance of defeating President Joe Biden in the election, 48% to 45%, compared to Trump losing 45% to 48%.
