Marco Rubio Warns Ron DeSantis About Florida Feud With Disney World

US Senator Marco Rubio warned Gov. Ron DeSantis and state GOP lawmakers spoke out about their escalating feud with Walt Disney World in an interview Thursday.

“I had no problem taking it,” Rubio said on the cable news network program. Review of Disney and that theme park conglomerate‘s autonomy is “perfectly legal” under scrutiny by state officials.

But Rubio said he harbors a perception that companies “politically cross with us” will be “caught in the legislative crosshairs for the political purpose of making statements.”

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“We’re not saying we’re still there as a state,” Rubio said. Disney invested too much in Florida “Go anywhere”.

But the dispute between the governor and what is arguably Florida’s most popular business is deepening. Disney subsequently sued the governor and the state, alleging political retaliation.

Rubio said “worry” if so Pressure on Disney sets precedent For other companies in Florida.

“If this happens too often, companies thinking about coming to Florida will say, ‘If we get into a political hoopla with them, they’ll come, so maybe we don’t want to go there.’ ‘After our business,’ he said. “It’s also a matter of assumption.”

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Other Republicans advised the governor to put the brakes on the Disney feud

Rubio’s comments follow a bitter rupture with DeSantis over the war in Ukraine after the governor dismissively called the conflict a “territorial dispute” in March.

Rubio replied: “I don’t know what he’s trying to do or what he’s aiming for. Obviously, he doesn’t deal with foreign policy every day as governor, so (…) that can’t be compared to anything else”he said or said in the last few years”

It also followed other Republican voices calling for restraint by the governor.

DeSantis’ predecessor, Florida Gov. Sen. Rick Scott, fell short of supporting dismantling Disney’s autonomy despite criticizing Florida’s “woke-up” companies earlier this month. rice field.

US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reminded DeSantis this week that Disney is one of the state’s “biggest” employers.

“I don’t think the idea of ​​building a prison next to where you’re bringing your family is the best idea,” McCarthy said, referring to the governor’s hidden threat to develop national property next to Disney. and undesirable facilities.

McCarthy called on the governor to “sit down” with Disney.

“I think it would be much better if you sat down and worked things out,” McCarthy echoed comments made earlier in April by Disney CEO Bob Iger, who said he would talk to DeSantis to work things out.

And last week, former President Donald Trump ripped DeSantis apart in a social media post, saying the governor’s approach was a potential job killer, concluding that “DeSanctus is being completely destroyed by Disney.” I got

Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)

In Thursday’s interview, Rubio also added that he “doesn’t know why” Disney should enjoy autonomy, set in the 1960s to lure Walt Disney to Florida. “It will be reviewed annually,” he said, adding that “congress is considering it.”

Rubio did not elaborate on whether he attempted to change or remove Disney’s autonomy structure as a state representative from 2000 to 2008. advocated for change.

Antonio Fins is a political and business editor. palm beach, part of the USA TODAY Florida network.you can contact him afins@pbpost.com. Please support our journalism. Subscribe now.