In an unfortunate turn of events, Florida’s largest economic contributor, Disney, shared troubling news with its residents last week. Disney announced the cancellation of a $1 billion Lake Nona office campus plan that would have brought 2,000 jobs to Florida.
The news didn’t just stun Floridians but also Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as well. Disney’s plan changes didn’t come out of nowhere. They are a result of an ongoing feud with the governor.
Last week, the industry giant may have dealt the fatal blow. They announced the cancellation of the office campus plan a week before DeSantis was expected to enter the 2024 GOP presidential race.
DeSantis’ feud with Disney has harmed Florida’s economy. The material costs of this feud won’t sit well with Floridians. It also serves as ammunition for other Republicans joining the GOP presidential race.
In April, Donald Trump already criticized the governor’s decision to target Disney. He said, “DeSanctus is being absolutely destroyed by Disney”. He also predicted that Disney will reduce investments in Florida, stating “Disney’s next move will be the announcement that no more money will be invested in Florida because of the Governor”. [Source]
The canceled campus is just the latest development in an escalating feud. DeSantis initially won Republican voters’ hearts with his pushback against progressive ideologies in education.
In 2021, DeSantis signed the “Parental Rights in Education” bill into law. The bill bans discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms in Florida public schools. Critics have dubbed the bill as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
This move resonated with Republican voters and also sparked the feud with Disney.
Disney claimed that the bill goes against their values of inclusivity and diversity. Initially, DeSantis didn’t have to respond, and the relationship between Florida and Disney would have remained untarnished. [Source]
DeSantis then made a controversial move. In response to Disney’s opposition to the bill, he tried to strip the company of its special self-governing status over the Reedy Creek Improvement District. [Source]
After an investigation of the district initiated by the governor, the Reedy Creek Improvement District appointed a new board of supervisors, selected by DeSantis. The board renamed the district to Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
The feud escalated even further when DeSantis made public comments in South Carolina, where he stated: “They may have run Florida for 50 years before I got on the scene, but they don’t run Florida anymore”. [Source]
In response to DeSantis’ efforts to target the industry giant, Disney filed a lawsuit against the governor. They accused the governor of engaging in a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power against Disney in retaliation for expressing a political viewpoint”. [Source]
Disney CEO Bob Iger raised concerns about DeSantis’ actions during an earnings call. He emphasized the potential impact on Disney’s investments and job creation in Florida. He also questioned whether the state wanted Disney to continue investing. [Source]
It’s clear that the governor’s action have driven Disney to reconsider its relationship with the Sunshine State. His actions also raise doubts about the Florida’s image as a business-friendly state. [Source]
The Lake Nona office campus could have brought a boon to the economy, but now that opportunity goes unrealized. In addition to the cancellation of the campus plan, Disney also retracted their plans to move their 2,000 California-based employees to Florida. [Source]
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s parks, stated in a memo to employees that Disney still plans to invest $17 billion in Florida over the next 10 years.
Disney reducing investments in Florida could have devastating consequences for the state. The industry giant is one of the largest employers and taxpayers in Florida.
It’s not just Florida and its economy that stand to lose from this feud. The feud has serious implications for DeSantis’ political career., staining his potential GOP presidential race. An unexpected gift for his political rivals.
The feud has become a win-win situation for Trump. Who is planning to joining the 2024 GOP presidential race. The former President can now portray DeSantis as politically naive.
Trump has been quick to exploit this situation. Every new development only reinforces his statement: “DeSanctus is being absolutely destroyed by Disney”.
In his rush to appeal to Republican voters, the governor seems to have overlooked the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with major corporations like Disney, which contribute significantly to the state’s economy.
DeSantis’ move was miscalculated. As the 2024 GOP presidential race heats up, it’s clear that this feud will have repercussions not just for DeSantis, but for the entire Republican field.