Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signaled on Monday that he wanted an end to his war with Disney, saying the media giant should drop its lawsuit against the state.
“[W]here we are today, you know, we’ve basically moved on,” DeSantis said during an interview on CNBC’s “Last Call.” “They’re suing the state of Florida, they’re going to lose that lawsuit. So what I would say is, drop the lawsuit.”
The GOP presidential hopeful also indicated that he would be willing to speak with Disney CEO Bob Iger, touting his efforts to keep businesses open during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“No one has made Disney more money recently than me,” the Florida governor said on Monday. “Because during Covid, they were open in Florida.”
DeSantis’ feud with Disney began last year, sparked after the company publicly criticized Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature for approving a bill banning teachers from leading discussions on gender identity and sexual orientation, a measure that came to be known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
In April, Disney took the battle to federal court, alleging that DeSantis and other state officials retaliated against the company and violated its First Amendment rights. In May, the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District brought its own state lawsuit against Disney, alleging that a deal struck over the company’s authority over itself violated state law.
The Florida governor’s tussle with the company has drawn criticism from his political opponents as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination. DeSantis’ comments on Monday are some of the first signs he might be willing to stand down.