DeSantis got it right: Influencer accused of sex crimes shouldn’t be welcome in Florida | Opinion
Andrew Tate, a far-right influencer and self-described misogynist, and his brother Tristan landed in Fort Lauderdale last Thursday night after being detained in Romania on charges of human trafficking and other crimes since December 2022.
Whereas the Trump administration, according to reporting by the Financial Times, pushed the Romanian government to ease restrictions on the brothers’ travel, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent a message that Florida will not serve as a safe haven for those facing serious allegations, which also include rape and creating a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
DeSantis spoke out, saying that Florida was “not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct,” and that the Florida attorney general was looking at what jurisdiction Florida had to “deal with this.”
We applaud DeSantis’ rebuke.
The brothers, who deny any wrongdoing, were not allowed to leave Romania until last week when their travel ban was lifted. The Financial Times reported in February that the Trump administration was pushing Romanian authorities to lift travel restrictions and return the Tate brothers’ U.S. passports. President Donald Trump has said he doesn’t know about the case and Romania’s foreign minister has denied he’s faced pressure from the U.S. but said the Tates were mentioned in a brief meeting with an American official earlier this month.
DeSantis’ comments aligns with the values of a state that should prioritize the safety and well-being of its residents over welcoming far-right influencers who promote an ultra-masculine lifestyle that is denigrating to women. Andrew Tate was banned from social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and YouTube for hate speech and misogynistic comments, including that women should bear responsibility for getting sexually assaulted.
By rejecting the presence of the Tates, DeSantis is taking a stand against those accused of abusing and exploiting women. This is important in an era where men in power have used their positions and money to take advantage and abuse women.
DeSantis has called on Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to identify what jurisdiction Florida had in the matter. On Thursday morning, Uthmeier tweeted: “Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women. If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable.”
It remains to be seen if Florida has any jurisdiction over the case and it’s unknown how long the brothers will stay in the Sunshine State.
DeSantis and Uthmeier stand in sharp contrast to how other Republicans reacted to the Tates’ arrival here. Some Republicans, such as the Tampa Bay Young Republicans organization, have rolled out the welcome mat and invited them to speak to their group. Trump supporter and far-right influencer Candace Owens posted to X suggesting that the Tate brothers were political martyrs.
In recent weeks, DeSantis has suffered a fair share of criticism and sparred with members in his own party. It’s clear he’s trying to find his path while at the same time trying to prove to Trump he’s an ally. And in politics juggling those two things can be difficult.
Leadership is about doing the right thing when the moment calls for it, and while DeSantis has stumbled along the way, this is one moment he got it right.
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