Former NBA Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom said on Tuesday that he’s considering a move to Florida after meeting with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Freedom shared the words in a Twitter post alongside DeSantis on Tuesday.
“It was a pleasure to meet with @GovRonDeSantis,” Freedom wrote. “Huge thanks for your support and friendship. I’ll definitely consider your offer to move to Florida.”
It was a pleasure to meet with @GovRonDeSantis
Huge thanks for your support and friendship.
I’ll definitely consider your offer to move to Florida 😄 pic.twitter.com/pMPwt6YAgw
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) April 26, 2022
Freedom, who was born in Switzerland and raised in his family’s native country of Turkey, has become known as an outspoken advocate of freedom.
The NBA star has faced opposition from his own nation of Turkey after he began speaking out on freedom-related issues. Turkey revoked his passport and jailed his father when he started speaking against his home country’s government.
The controversy sparked international attention as his passport was revoked, putting Freedom’s eligibility for NBA games in Canada into question, but the Canadian government allowed him to travel to the country.
The Boston Celtics player legally changed his last name to “Freedom” in 2021 as he prepared to become an American citizen in November 2021.
“People should feel very lucky and blessed to be in a country like America where there’s human rights,” The Daily Wire reported Freedom saying in February. “And obviously, America is having her own problems. But change can only happen in America with freedom of speech. And without freedom, we cannot do anything.”
Freedom has met with other American political leaders in recent weeks as well. On Sunday, he was spotted in a picture with North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer and North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley.
“Honored to meet this selfless and courageous #humanrights advocate,” Wrigley wrote.
This was a treat…my pal @SenKevinCramer stopped in this week w/his friend @EnesFreedom . “People are people,” as they say… But some have extraordinary courage. Honored to meet this selfless and courageous #humanrights advocate💪🏻 pic.twitter.com/wTMzRNduSZ
— Drew H. Wrigley (@DrewWrigley) April 24, 2022
Cramer also referred to Freedom’s account in a Twitter post last week.
“Every freedom-loving American should hear @EnesFreedom’s story,” the senator wrote. “His personal testimony serves as an example of how blessed we are to live in the U.S.”
Freedom also recently posted a picture of himself standing alongside former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
“It was a pleasure to meet and talk about foreign policy with @SecPompeo,” Freedom tweeted. “Huge thanks for your support and friendship.”
It was a pleasure to meet and talk about foreign policy with @SecPompeo
Huge thanks for your support and friendship. pic.twitter.com/YJYSm2lAwN
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) April 24, 2022
Despite his American citizenship, Freedom noted he is always under threat when traveling.
“There is always a threat. I have received many messages threatening my life. If I am going to a country, the first thing I do is get in touch with the government or services to make sure they provide me with security wherever I go. Erdogan’s people can be anywhere. The same will happen if I go to Greece, where I trust people,” he said during an interview with the National Herald last week.