Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a press conference as he announces that Florida law enforcement will launch a criminal investigation of the apparent assassination attempt on Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump, in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. September 17, 2024. REUTERS/Marco Bello
Alexander Willis is a senior editor who graduated from the Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas and currently lives in the Metro Nashville area, Tennessee. Prior to joining Raw Story, he covered the Alabama Legislature and governor’s office for Alabama Daily News, and before that, covered government and politics for the Williamson Scene in Middle Tennessee.
Things got heated during a press conference led by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Thursday after the event was disrupted by an individual asking about the state’s new migrant prison Alligator Alcatraz, while also labeling the governor as a “pedophile” for supporting President Donald Trump.
Speaking at a presser near Tampa, Florida, DeSantis was in the middle of reminiscing about WrestleMania III, the 1987 professional wrestling event hosted by the World Wrestling Federation, amid the news of Hulk Hogan’s death when an attendee shouted a question about Alligator Alcatraz.
“Is that your f—--- legacy?” the attendee shouted, regarding Alligator Alcatraz. “You bow down to a f—--- pedophile, you’re a f—--- pedophile!”
“Hey, stop!” DeSantis shouted back. “Get out of here! Get out of here, get out of here, get out of here.”
Law enforcement quickly escorted the disrupter out of the presser, and without missing a beat, DeSantis went back to reminiscing about WrestleMania III.
The disrupter’s comments reference Trump’s current controversy surrounding his past ties with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Trump has faced increased scrutiny from among his own base for his refusal to disclose all files related to Epstein currently held by his Justice Department, despite pledging to do so when seeking the presidency last year.
Despite his spat with Trump while competing against him for the Republican presidential nominee in 2024, DeSantis has been a staunch ally of the president during his second term, despite footing the bill for the Trump-pushed Alligator Alcatraz, estimated to cost $450 million a year to operate, for seemingly nothing in return.