A petition for clemency for the illegal immigrant truck driver charged with killing three people while making an illegal U-turn is gaining traction online, leading to outrage from people who believe the opposite approach is warranted.
Harjinder Singh entered the country illegally in 2018.
More than 2.5 million people have signed the change.org petition directed toward Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency, urging them to consider that the accused has no criminal history and simply made a “terrible mistake.”
But DeSantis had already made it clear that he was taking the case seriously as he sent Florida’s new lieutenant governor, Jay Collins, to California last week to extradite Singh. “Fleeing to a sanctuary state will not prevent him from facing justice in Florida, and we will make sure of that. He will be held accountable for his criminal actions,” the governor said at the time, per <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/desantis-state-line-wont-protect-criminal-illegals-sends-chuck-norris-deputy-nab-fugitive-trucker">Fox News</a>.
Singh, 28, was charged with three counts of vehicular homicide and was recently denied bail as he awaits trial. California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is also catching heat because the state issued Singh a commercial driver’s license despite him not being in the country legally. California is one of 19 states to issue licenses to illegal immigrants.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said last week that he had launched an investigation into the accident, calling it a “preventable tragedy,” as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/preventable-tragedy-duffy-blames-multiple-states-as-illegal-alien-faces-charges-in-florida-crash">reported</a>.
“If states had followed the rules, this driver would never have been behind the wheel and three precious lives would still be with us,” Duffy said. “This crash was a preventable tragedy directly caused by reckless decisions and compounded by despicable failures.”
The online petition for clemency is being blasted online, with many commenters weighing in on the situation.
“They’d rather defend an illegal truck driver than protect American lives. I guarantee you, I know what their political ideologies are. Pure clown world,” one commenter <a href="https://x.com/CajunCombatVet/status/1959772678682022005">wrote</a>.
“It shouldn’t matter if 50 million sign it. We don’t impose justice by popular opinion. We have laws for a reason. 3 people lost their lives. Is there any justice for them?” another person <a href="https://x.com/pattydavid/status/1959804241448484996">agreed</a>.

MixCollage-20-Aug-2025-07-58-AM-812

Clemency Petition For Illegal Immigrant Trucker Accused Of Killing 3 Sparks Furious Backlash

California

Crime

Florida

illegal immigrant

News

Ron DeSantis

Truckers

U.S.

After Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a <a href="https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/memorandum/Governors_Safe_Roads.htm">directive</a> on July 1 ordering all governors to comply with federal standards for “consistent and recognizable traffic control devices including crosswalk and intersection markings, and orderly use of the right‑of‑way that is kept free from distractions,” Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis did exactly that, ordering the state to paint over a rainbow-colored crosswalk in Orlando memorializing the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, and enraging critics who contended it was an attack on gay rights.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer called the removal “callous” and “a cruel political act,” adding, “This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando’s commitment to honor the 49 lives taken.”
State Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith argued, “They did this in the middle of the night because they were scared of the resistance because they know what they did was wrong.”
“The state transportation agency had been notifying cities around Florida in recent months that they must remove rainbow-colored crosswalks and intersections or they could face the withholding of transportation funds,” the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-lgbtq-pulse-nightclub-desantis-329ebed5d628400afb066d2772c3855a">noted</a>.
DeSantis issued a blunt and succinct reply to his critics: “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes. <a href="https://t.co/AXY1qxsZNW">https://t.co/AXY1qxsZNW</a>
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1958583393714667572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Some community members then <a href="https://x.com/jeremy_rodrigue/status/1958670495483592732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1958670495483592732%7Ctwgr%5E7ac4c6e18c02c61f96b81df762f6b17dcf98525c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsweek.com%2Fflorida-locals-ron-desantis-pulse-rainbow-crosswalk-2117628">rechalked</a> the rainbow colors onto the crosswalk.
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But DeSantis had plenty of support online, as Twitchy<a href="https://twitchy.com/justmindy/2025/08/22/desantis-painted-over-pride-intersection-carlos-smith-big-mad-n2417681"> documented</a>. Some comments included:
<blockquote>
Good on DeSantis. This should have never been on the sidewalk to begin with. Stop painting sidewalks, crosswalks and roads for any group cause. All it does is make people more irritated with you.
Painting a sidewalk in rainbow colors has nothing to do with the people who were murdered there. People can mourn them in private or go to the cemetery. This is like marking a spot for one group of people. Also, the Governor can do what he thinks is best for all his citizens.
Painting a sidewalk in rainbow colors has nothing to do with the people who were murdered there. People can mourn them in private or go to the cemetery. This is like marking a spot for one group of people. Also, the Governor can do what he thinks is best for all his citizens.
DeSantis doesn’t play! Florida just painted over the rainbow crosswalk in Orlando and the left is LOSING it.  One senator is literally on-scene crying about a sidewalk… Meanwhile, real Floridians are cheering. 🌴🇺🇸  Common sense &gt; woke symbolism.
</blockquote>

US-NEWS-FLA-RAINBOW-CROSSWALKS-EDITORIAL-OS

DeSantis Removes Woke Crosswalk, Sparks Backlash From The Left

LGBT

Mass Shooting

Politics

Pulse Nightclub

Rainbow crosswalks

Social Issues

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced new facilities to support Alligator Alcatraz, called the Deportation Depot.
&#8220;We&#8217;re taking yet another step in supporting the important mission that President Trump was elected to implement of securing the border, enforcing immigration laws, and removing illegal aliens who are in our society now and sending them back to their home country,&#8221; DeSantis <a href="https://x.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1955981567320580574" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> at a press conference.
The new facility will be based in the Baker Correctional Institution in Baker County, a men&#8217;s state prison located 45 miles west of Jacksonville. The Deportation Depot is projected to be able to house between 1,300 and 2,000 individuals.
DeSantis claimed in the press conference that the Department of Homeland Security would be reimbursing the state for the cost of operating the facility.
The Florida governor touted the new facility&#8217;s infrastructure, saying that a large part of the prison was not in use &#8220;for any correctional purposes&#8221; and could be easily converted to house those facing deportation.
DeSantis also noted that a nearby airport would enable Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel to speedily deport illegal aliens from the Deportation Depot, although it was not as convenient as the runway directly on the property of Alligator Alcatraz in South Florida.
Alligator Alcatraz, which has been in operation since mid-June, has seen both controversy and success in its time in operation. Although it faces protests by environmental activists and anti-ICE demonstrators, the facility is deporting <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hundreds-of-illegal-aliens-deported-in-first-flights-from-alligator-alcatraz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hundreds of illegal aliens</a>, according to DeSantis.
&#8220;This is a priority for the people of our state. It&#8217;s a priority for the people of this country and I don&#8217;t want to see any more Angel Moms,&#8221; DeSantis said, referring in particular to mothers whose children are killed by illegal aliens.
The Deportation Depot is the third facility of its kind, joining Alligator Alcatraz and the Speedway Slammer, which the Trump administration <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alligator-alcatraz-has-some-new-competition-the-speedway-slammer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> will be operated in a partnership with the state of Indiana.
DeSantis&#8217;s announcement comes as the Trump administration continues to rack up wins against sanctuary cities and human traffickers.
On Wednesday, two immigrants from Mexico were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/couple-convicted-for-harboring-illegal-aliens-at-texas-bakery" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted</a> by a Texas jury of harboring illegal aliens at their bakery near the southern border, which a federal investigator said &#8220;not only [violated] federal immigration laws but also [exploits] vulnerable individuals for profit.&#8221;
The Trump administration also filed <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-admin-guns-for-nyc-in-lawsuit-over-sanctuary-city-status" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lawsuits</a> over the past few months against New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago in an effort to legally force the cities to collaborate with federal officials to apprehend, detain, and deport illegal aliens. A federal court has since dropped the Department of Justice’s case against Chicago due to a lack of standing on the federal government’s part.
President Trump&#8217;s legal action is still having some effect. Some cities, such as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-effect-d-c-police-break-from-sanctuary-city-policies-will-cooperate-with-ice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington, D.C</a>., and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/blue-city-abandons-sanctuary-city-policy-after-warning-from-trump-administration?author=Spencer+Lindquist&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Blue+City+Abandons+%E2%80%98Sanctuary+City%E2%80%99+Policy+After+Warning+From+Trump+Administration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louisville</a>, Kentucky, have abandoned &#8211; or are taking steps to move away from &#8211; city policies that favor illegal immigrants over federal law enforcement personnel.

Governor DeSantis Hold News Conference On Border Security

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ 3.0: Florida Announces New Deportation Facility

Alligator

Department of Homeland Security

Illegal Immigration

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill heads back to the House after a marathon Senate session – and a tie-breaking vote from JD Vance. Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis put aside past differences at Alligator Alcatraz — touting the power of their federal-state alliance. And, Bryan Kohberger avoids the death penalty – pleading guilty to murdering four Idaho students.
It’s Wednesday, July 2, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
Morning Wire is available on video! You can watch today’s episode here: 
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<h2>The Senate Passes Trump&#8217;s Big, Beautiful Bill</h2>
<div id="attachment_924413" style="width: 868px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-924413" class="size-large wp-image-924413" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg" alt="" width="858" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-858x576.jpg 858w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-768x516.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-1536x1031.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2216484723-2048x1375.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 858px) 100vw, 858px" />(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)</div>
Topline: After a marathon vote in Congress, the Senate narrowly passed Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill, pushing his sweeping policy agenda toward the finish line.
Senators and their staff spent the last 48 hours debating the bill non-stop — in what Washington calls a Vote-a-Rama, where members submit last minute amendments before a final vote. Votes were held on 45 proposed amendments covering everything from Medicare cuts and electric car subsidies to health care for illegal immigrants and Planned Parenthood funding. That process went all night Monday and well into Tuesday afternoon.
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Democrats made clear that they viewed the Vote-a-Rama as a means of forcing Republicans to go on the record with their views, but more importantly, to stall. That tactic angered Republicans and even some Democrats who opposed the bill, including Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman.
“Oh my God, I just want to go home,” Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/niceblackdude/status/1939829913873522764">said</a> during the Vote-a-Rama. “Keeping us here until some ungodly hour isn’t helping anyone.”
Given their slim majority, the GOP could only afford to lose three Republican votes. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Susan Collins (R-ME) were definite no votes, so it came down to Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. Ultimately, GOP leadership won her over by offering major concessions, exempting Alaska from a number of funding cuts in the bill. The final tally was 50-50, allowing Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast the deciding vote.
The bill will now head to the House, where it’s expected to pass, though not without some difficulty – some hardline Republicans have expressed concerns about some of the Senate’s changes. Given the delay from Senate Democrats, the bill might not be voted on before President Trump’s desired deadline of July 4th. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he would honor the customary 72 hour period to allow members three days to review the legislation – so it’ll be tight.
<h2>Trump-DeSantis Alliance &amp; Alligator Alcatraz</h2>
<div id="attachment_582447" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-582447" class="size-large wp-image-582447" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg" alt="Donald Trump Ron DeSantis" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Getty Images</div>
Topline: President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference down at the state’s new “Alligator Alcatraz” on Tuesday.
Trump and DeSantis have reconciled since Trump beat the Florida governor in the GOP presidential primary last year, and Trump’s win in November pushed the two even closer, especially on immigration, but also on other issues as well.
“Ron, I would like to thank you, personally,” Trump said during a joint press conference. “You&#8217;re my friend. You will always be my friend. We may have some skirmishes even in the future &#8212; I doubt it &#8212; but I will always come back. We have blood that seems to match pretty well. We have a relationship that&#8217;s been a very strong one.”
DeSantis is term-limited as Florida’s governor, and he signaled that his wife Casey may jump into the 2026 race to replace him. An endorsement from Trump would be a huge boon in a Republican primary that has the potential to be extraordinarily competitive.
The press conference took place during a visit to Alligator Alcatraz – an immigration facility being built in the everglades. It could hold thousands of illegal aliens slated for deportation. In addition to the new detention facility, Trump also plans to deputize Florida National Guardsmen as immigration judges, which could massively cut down the time it takes to schedule immigration hearings – from a matter of years to just a few days.
Detention capacity has been a big constraint to Trump’s immigration agenda. That’s why we’ve seen the Trump administration partner with El Salvador, for instance, to hold illegal aliens, or ship them to Guantanamo Bay. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now arresting hundreds of illegal aliens a day, and Trump is doing whatever he can to make sure none of them are released back into the public after they’ve been caught.
<h2>Accused Murderer Accepts Plea Deal</h2>
<div id="attachment_644939" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-644939" class="size-large wp-image-644939" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg" alt="Second District Judge John C. Judge speaks at a hearing for Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of murder, on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images</div>
Topline: The man accused of the 2022 Idaho murders has accepted a plea deal. The death penalty trial was originally set to begin on August 18th.
Byran Kohberger will accept the prosecution’s plea deal and plead guilty to all charges. Those include four counts of murder, as well as burglary. In exchange, the state has agreed to take the death penalty off the table – he will serve four consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole, and he has waived the right to appeal. There will be a change of plea hearing on Wednesday, which may provide some closure for the families of the four victims: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Kaylee+Goncalves&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAC&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Kaylee Goncalves</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Madison+Mogen&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAD&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Madison Mogen</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Xana+Kernodle&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAE&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Xana Kernodle</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Ethan+Chapin&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAF&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Ethan Chapin</a>.
Kaylee Goncalves&#8217; sister Aubrie called the decision to take the death penalty off the table “shocking and cruel.” The family posted a statement to social media saying, “We are beyond furious at the state of Idaho. They have failed us.”
The defense has maintained that Kohberger is innocent, although initially the evidence against him seemed overwhelming. His car was caught on surveillance, his cell phone data was consistent with him being near the scene &#8212; not just on the night of the murder, but the next morning, and on about a dozen occasions leading up to the crime, always late at night. Most damning, his DNA was found on the knife sheath left at the scene, and his purchase history showed a black ski mask similar to the one described by the witness. He was also a criminology student with apparent interest in serial killers.
Defense attorney Anne Taylor did raise arguments for reasonable doubt. First, she filed a motion to have the DNA evidence thrown out because it was obtained, according to her, through an illegal genealogy search – that would have been devastating to the prosecution&#8217;s case. She also raised the issue of mystery DNA found in the bloody handprint. Investigators determined that there was DNA from two mystery males found in that print on the bannister, and DNA from a third mystery male was found on a glove outside the residence. There was also DNA from multiple individuals found under the fingernails of one of the victims, although it was inconclusive. The defense was planning to float an alternative suspect theory, and all they had to do was make one juror have doubts. These issues also could have theoretically provided fertile ground for appeals down the road.
However, in the past week, the judge dismissed the defense’s attempt to introduce alternative suspects. And not long before that, it was revealed that a DoorDash driver may have been at the scene delivering food at 4 a.m. when the crime occurred. In leaked police interview footage, that driver can be heard saying, “I saw Bryan there,” and she claimed she parked next to him.

MRN 7.2.25 Thumbnail_V1

Morning Brief: Senate Passes The Big Beautiful Bill, Alligator Alcatraz & Idaho Plea Deal

Congress

Courts

Donald Trump

Idaho

Murder

U.S. Senate

President Donald Trump is expected to visit Florida&#8217;s new illegal alien detention facility, dubbed &#8220;Alligator Alcatraz,&#8221; after protesters descended on the site over the weekend.
Construction began on the site — which Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-offers-alligator-alcatraz-to-house-illegal-aliens" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> &#8220;an old, virtually abandoned airport facility right in the middle of the Everglades&#8221; — earlier this month. According to a <a href="https://x.com/BreitbartNews/status/1938670525145924038" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> by Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin, the costs of construction will be paid in part by a Biden-era <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dhs-has-clawed-back-the-59m-fema-paid-to-house-illegals-in-nyc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FEMA program</a> originally used to house illegal aliens in upscale hotels.
Uthmeier proposed the site in response to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis&#8217;s crackdown on illegal aliens, which has led to a <a href="https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/largest-joint-immigration-operation-florida-history-leads-1120-criminal-alien-arrests" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record number</a> of arrests. He <a href="https://x.com/WillCainShow_/status/1937980514708631776" target="_blank" rel="noopener">says</a> the site &#8220;is ideal because of its surrounding area. It’s a low-cost, already developed 30 square mile area surrounded by the Everglades.&#8221;
Trump is expected to tour the facilities on Tuesday, at which point the facility should be fully operational. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the trip in a briefing Monday, saying the president was visiting to &#8220;underscore the need to pass the Big, Beautiful Bill,&#8221; which she said will help fund the construction of much-needed detention facilities.
Alligator Alcatraz will reportedly hold 5,000 illegal immigrants as they await deportation from the on-site runway. Amenities at the site include beds, laundry facilities, air conditioning, and medical care — the same Florida uses for hurricane relief, according to DeSantis.
Still, critics have slammed the facility as inhumane.
&#8220;Anyone who supports this is a disgusting excuse for a human being, let alone a public servant,&#8221; <a href="https://frost.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-maxwell-frost-blasts-florida-and-trump-administration-for-alligator-alcatraz-calls-detention-center-a-cruel-spectacle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL).
On Saturday, demonstrators lined the highway between Miami and the facility to protest its construction. In addition to claiming the facility is inhumane, they object to its location in the Everglades, which they say will harm the local ecosystem as well as the nearby Native American community.
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Friends of the Everglades have filed a lawsuit to stop construction at the site. These groups claim that the new project bypasses existing environmental laws and threatens the Everglades&#8217; ecosystem.
&#8220;This scheme is not only cruel, it threatens the Everglades ecosystem that state and federal taxpayers have spent billions to protect,&#8221; <a href="https://www.everglades.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FOE-Alligator-Alcatraz-Press-Release.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> Eve Samples, the executive director of Friends of the Everglades.
&#8220;This is a lazy lawsuit,&#8221; McLaughlin <a href="https://x.com/RedWave_Press/status/1939703248492917171" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> in response. &#8220;This land has been developed for over a decade now, so these environmental concerns have been fully handled by the State of Florida.&#8221;
DeSantis echoed this statement in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJfG7L9reHU" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press conference</a> Monday, saying, &#8220;I think people are just trying to use the Everglades as a pretext for the fact that they oppose immigration enforcement.&#8221;
&#8220;We have the president of the United States coming down tomorrow to tout what Florida has done,&#8221; DeSantis said.
Leavitt confirmed DeSantis&#8217;s statement and added that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem would also tour the site. Leavitt praised DeSantis&#8217;s construction of the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility, which she said was a testament to Trump&#8217;s devotion to deporting criminal illegal aliens.

Zurich Classic of New Orleans – Round Three

Trump Plans Visit To Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Amid Protests, Lawsuit

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis chartered four flights to bring roughly 1,500 Jewish-Americans who evacuated from Israel back home to America.
The Americans on a 10-day Birthright Israel trip took an Israeli cruise vessel to Larnaca, Cyprus, while protected by the Israeli Navy. DeSantis chartered four wide-bodied jetliners to <a href="https://x.com/AviKaner/status/1934999128120942953">bring them</a> from Cyprus back to Tampa, Florida, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel <a href="https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/06/17/u-s-jews-fleeing-israel-iran-hostilities-to-fly-home-in-florida-backed-airlift/">reported</a>.
“The remainder of the 2,800 international participants who were in Israel when war broke out on Friday have chosen to depart via other means or have chosen to stay in Israel with family,” the <a href="https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-858061">Jerusalem Post</a> reported.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thank you to Florida governor Ron DeSantis <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonDeSantis</a> for helping repatriate 1,500 young Americans from their birthright trips in Israel. <a href="https://t.co/VlTqquSGgA">pic.twitter.com/VlTqquSGgA</a>
— Avi Kaner ابراهيم אבי (@AviKaner) <a href="https://twitter.com/AviKaner/status/1934999128120942953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“We have been working with the Israeli consulate, which has been in touch with the governor’s office,” Joy Prevor, vice president of projects for the Broward Jewish Federation, stated. “We are hopeful anyone who needs to get out will get out, but it is being done in a staged fashion. I just saw a video of the boat to Cyprus. It’s difficult because they were in such a stressful situation.”
“Thank God for the Iron Dome and thank God for Israel having a very developed text alert system,” she continued.
In October 2023, two weeks after the Hamas massacre of more than 1200 people in Israel, among whom were at least 30 Americans, DeSantis ordered an emergency airlift that brought home another 200 Americans. He also sent two large planes containing 85 pallets of donated supplies.
The donated Medical supplies included 735 Ace bandages, approximately 5,000 hospital gowns, 84 IV kits, 30,000+ needles, 30,000+ syringes, 57 ventilators, and 10,000+ boxes of surgical gloves. In addition to medical supplies, Florida also donated: 1,000+ children’s toys, 300+ sleeping bags, 1,000+ hygiene products, and 2,000+ articles of clothing.
DeSantis ripped the Biden administration at the time, saying, “With the lack of leadership in Washington, we are stepping up to help our allies in Israel who are in need of supplies and our support. As we continue to bring back Americans who were stranded in Israel when the war began, we will also keep sending the necessary health care supplies for Israel to care for those who have been injured.”

US-POLITICS-VOTE-DESANTIS

DeSantis Charters Jets To Rescue Americans Stranded In Israel

Global Politics

Israel

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey gave a dire warning to any would-be rioters on Thursday, threatening to “kill” anyone who attacks law enforcement.
Ivey outlined expectations for potential protests during a news conference on Thursday, explaining a host of illegal actions and what their likely consequences could be.
“If you resist lawful orders, you are going to jail. Let me be very clear about that. If you block an intersection or a roadway in Brevard County, you are going to jail. If you flee arrest, you&#8217;re going to go to jail tired because we&#8217;re going to run you down and put you in jail,” the sheriff said. “If you try to mob rule a car in Brevard County — gathering around it, refusing to let the driver leave — in our county, you&#8217;re most likely going to get run over and dragged across the street.”
“If you spit on us, you&#8217;re going to the hospital, and in jail. If you hit one of us, you&#8217;re going to the hospital, and jail, and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs that we have here,” he continued. “If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at because we will kill you graveyard dead.”
Days of anti-immigration enforcement riots have rocked the Los Angeles area. Rioters have burned vehicles, attacked law enforcement, and defaced buildings. Looters have ransacked businesses. Many demonstrators have carried foreign flags or worn Palestinian keffiyehs.
The sheriff appeared to have the chaos in Los Angeles in mind when he issued his warnings about protests.
“This has got to stop,” said Ivey. “You&#8217;re watching what&#8217;s taking place out there. You&#8217;re seeing police officers that are being attacked, being spit on, being put in harm&#8217;s way just for doing their jobs. You&#8217;re seeing ICE agents that are being targeted for doing their jobs, and you&#8217;re seeing obstructionists that are doing all of this standing in the way of law and order.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨 &#39;WE WILL K*LL YOU!&#39;: Florida sheriff has a message for would-be leftist rioters. NOT IN FLORIDA.
&quot;If you throw a brick, a firebomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at. Because we will K*LL you, graveyard… <a href="https://t.co/rmpqCS9L2F">pic.twitter.com/rmpqCS9L2F</a>
&mdash; Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1933227784941236615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Ivey’s hard-nosed approach to protests and demonstrations that could take place in Florida over the Trump administration’s deportation policies echoes the stance Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken. DeSantis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-aint-california-desantis-lays-out-official-policy-if-youre-blocked-in-traffic-by-rioters?author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=12&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Florida+Ain%E2%80%99t+California%3A+DeSantis+Lays+Out+Official+Policy+If+You%E2%80%99re+Blocked+In+Traffic+By+Rioters">appeared</a> on “The Rubin Report” podcast with host Dave Rubin in an episode that aired on Wednesday.
<a href="https://get.dailywire.com/gift/?utm_medium=website&amp;utm_source=wisepops&amp;utm_campaign=dad&amp;utm_content=fathersdaygiftpopups" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gift Dad an All Access Membership. Use code DAD40 at checkout to save 40%!</a>
“In terms of the unrest, Florida’s policy is very simple: You have every right to exercise your First Amendment rights to protest and demonstrate,” the Florida governor said. “The minute you cross that line, you are going to be met with serious pushback, and you will be held accountable. We do not tolerate rioting; we do not tolerate civil unrest; we do not tolerate looting; we do not tolerate attacks on law enforcement.”

Wayne Ivey

Florida Sheriff Warns Protesters ‘We Will Kill You’ If You Throw Bricks At Law Enforcement

Los Angeles

Protest

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis minced no words when speaking about the rights of citizens if they were surrounded by a mob while in their car.
DeSantis <a href="https://rumble.com/v6uncqd-exposing-the-real-origin-of-gavin-newsoms-ice-riot-problem-ron-desantis.html">spoke</a> to Dave Rubin of the Rubin Report regarding the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, and Florida’s policy regarding civil unrest.
“In terms of the unrest, Florida’s policy is very simple: You have every right to exercise your First Amendment rights to protest and demonstrate,” DeSantis explained. “The minute you cross that line, you are going to be met with serious pushback, and you will be held accountable. We do not tolerate rioting; we do not tolerate civil unrest; we do not tolerate looting; we do not tolerate attacks on law enforcement.”
“And so I know they’re planning stuff for all over the country; they tried to do a little protest in Florida, and they actually just held signs, which is fine, but that’s as far as it goes here,” he continued. “I think the problem in places like California is the authorities at both the local and state level; they’re effectively siding with the people that are causing the unrest. And part of it is because California is the Shangri-La of sanctuary states. They give you drivers’ licenses if you’re an illegal; you get in-state tuition; they pay for your healthcare; they will try to stymie ICE and protect you from having immigration law enforced, And so they’ve been doing this over a number of years and I think have developed a sense of entitlement that somehow, federal laws don’t apply to them because they don’t like them. So you’ve had the mayor, the governor, empower that element, not just now, but for many years &#8230;”
Asked what Florida’s policy was when demonstrators crossed the line, DeSantis replied:
<blockquote>
The Hamas demonstration, when that was in vogue, they tried to do that in the city of Miami and the Miami PD got them off the street in 13 minutes. They tried to do it in central Florida on a state road and our state highway patrol. they were able to dispatch them in 11 minutes. And so, yes, there is zero tolerance. You have no right to commandeer streets. First of all it’s just wrong. Second of all, that has huge impacts on people&#8217;s quality of life. You may have a parent needing to go pick up a child from daycare, from a camp, or from a school. You may have somebody who has a medical issue they need to get, and what, you’re going to clog all the roads?
So we have an absolutely zero tolerance policy for that and we also have a policy that if you&#8217;re driving on one of those streets, and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety. And so if you drive off, and you hit one of these people, that&#8217;s their fault for impinging on you. You don&#8217;t have to sit there and just be a sitting duck and let the mob grab you out of your car and drag you through the streets. You have a right to defend yourself in Florida.
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Florida is not playing with its rules on mobs surrounding your car. Take notes, Cali. 
Governor <a href="https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonDeSantis</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/RubinReport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RubinReport</a>
Watch NOW here: <a href="https://t.co/HGUYTG8ECc">https://t.co/HGUYTG8ECc</a> <a href="https://t.co/65h1a5LbAi">pic.twitter.com/65h1a5LbAi</a>
&mdash; The Rubin Report (@RubinReportShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/RubinReportShow/status/1932956095133479018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote>
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US-NEWS-FLA-IMMIGRATION-LAW-MI

Florida Ain’t California: DeSantis Lays Out Official Policy If You’re Blocked In Traffic By Rioters

Rioters

For the first time in history, there are more registered Republicans than Democrats in Florida&#8217;s Miami-Dade County.
Florida’s Voice <a href="https://flvoicenews.com/historic-first-miami-dade-county-flips-red-as-democrats-sink-further/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported </a>464,370 Republicans and 440,790 Democrats are now registered to vote in Miami-Dade County, one of Florida&#8217;s blue strongholds, as of Monday morning. That means a whopping 59 of 67 counties in Florida are now red.
“Miami-Dade County has completed its off-year voter roll maintenance, and this morning, it shed 172,747 voters from its active rolls,” Michael Pruser, Decision Desk HQ’s director of data science, stated. “The change netted Republicans more than 38,000 voters compared to Democrats, and the county has now flipped to Republican by registration. Today marks Republicans’ first-ever lead in voter registration in Miami-Dade.”
Florida’s remarkable change from an evenly divided state to a red one is largely attributed to the success of Florida&#8217;s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. In 2021, a <a href="https://thecapitolist.com/desantis-posts-strong-approval-in-latest-florida-chamber-poll/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">poll</a> conducted by the Florida Chamber of Commerce showed that the 14.5 million registered voters in Florida were almost exactly split between Republicans and Democrats. According to the <a href="https://dos.myflorida.com/elections/data-statistics/voter-registration-statistics/voter-registration-reportsxlsx/voter-registration-by-county-and-party/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida Department of State</a>, there were 5,290,465 registered Democrats, 5,185,744 Republicans, 3,832,070 independents with no party affiliation (NPAs), and 247,108 voters affiliated with another party.
By November 2021, fully one year before the reelection of DeSantis, who had narrowly won the governorship in 2018, <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2021/11/04/no-million-dollar-checks-democratic-governors-may-sit-out-florida-1392319">POLITICO</a> reported that the Democratic Governors Association would not give any significant financial aid to any Democrat opposing DeSantis’ re-election in 2022, choosing to focus on races it thought Democrats could win. On October 31, POLITICO <a href="https://www.politico.com/states/florida/story/2021/10/31/florida-democrats-anxious-as-desantis-seems-unbeatable-1392147" target="_blank" rel="noopener">admitted</a>, “Gov. Ron DeSantis appears unstoppable.” Indeed, he was, winning virtually 60% of the vote in November 2022 in a landslide.
President Donald Trump, who won the state narrowly in both 2016 and 2020, ran away with it in 2024, ultimately winning by double-digits. The Associated Press said it was comfortable calling the race when it saw that Trump was on track to win Miami-Dade County. Trump built on the success of DeSantis, who two years earlier became for first Republican to carry Miami-Dade in a statewide contest in two decades.
Last week, the Florida Department of State <a href="https://dos.fl.gov/elections/data-statistics/voter-registration-statistics/voter-registration-reports/voter-registration-by-party-affiliation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that there were now 5,578,457 registered GOP voters in Florida and 4,329,271 registered Democrats. That means that the GOP went from 50.5% of registered voters in 2021 to 56.3%, a massive 5.8 point shift in less than four years, with virtually all the time being during a Democratic presidential tenure.
In his tenure as governor, DeSantis has governed as a staunch conservative; he took massive heat for keeping the state open during the COVID pandemic, signed legislation requiring government employers and contractors to use E-Verify, terminated cooperation with a program to relocate illegal immigrants, advocated for more school choice, banned the teaching of Critical Race Theory in schools, banned China from buying land in the state, handled disasters such as Hurricanes Ian and Nicole with aplomb, for which he was widely praised, banned men from competing in women’s sports as far back as 2021, and introduced a $5,000 signing bonus for those wanting to be Florida police officers.

NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500

Florida’s Miami-Dade County Flips Red In Voter Registration For First Time In History

General

GOP voters

Miami

Florida GOP Governor Ron DeSantis made Florida the second state to <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/florida-becomes-second-state-ban-fluoride-public-water-rcna205127">ban fluoride</a> in public water, following Utah, which banned it earlier this month.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed <a href="https://flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/700/?Tab=BillHistory">SB 700</a>, which prohibits “the use of certain additives in a water system which do not meet specified requirements.” The law goes into effect July 1.
“There&#8217;s risks associated for pregnant women, for young people, for kids,” DeSantis <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM_PLtZJ08I">said</a> as he signed the bill. “Yes, use fluoride for your teeth, that&#8217;s fine, but forcing it into the water supply is basically forced medication on people. They don&#8217;t have a choice; you&#8217;re taking that away from them.”
“It raises a larger issue,” he continued. “I think we saw a lot of this with COVID, that we had to fight back against. They had certain views: you should wear a mask when you&#8217;re outside in 95-degree temperatures, (no, thank you) but that&#8217;s what they were saying, that kids should get a COVID mRNA shot even though we still don&#8217;t have data to this day to justify doing that.”
“They tried to push a lot of policies on people,” he recalled. “I think some of these people think that they know better for you than you do for yourself. They think because they have medical training or they have this that they should just be able to decree how we live our lives. That proved disastrous during COVID. A lot of the things they were advocating not only didn&#8217;t work, they caused a lot of harm.  &#8230; When we made sure that the schools were open, I got sued by the teachers’ union, saying ‘close the schools’ &#8230; Fauci was saying, ‘This is irresponsible.’ &#8230; They had these kids locked out for a year to a year-and-a-half &#8230; so we fought back against it.”
“I think fluoride is a good example because what they&#8217;re basically saying is that they&#8217;re ignoring any studies that have shown that there could be issues,” he contended. “They say. ‘Well, it&#8217;s good for your teeth so we should just force it.’”
“And you shouldn&#8217;t have a choice in that?” he asked incredulously. “We certainly now in our society in 2025 have the ability to deliver fluoride through toothpaste and all these other things. You don&#8217;t get to force it and take away people&#8217;s choices. The whole crux of the issue is you should be able to make decisions on the basis of informed consent.”
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Utah banned fluoride in public water in 2023. Utah banned it in May of 2025.

Governor DeSantis And ICE Announce Largest Joint Immigration Enforcement Operation In Florida History

‘It Raises Larger Issues’: DeSantis Bans Fluoride In Florida Water

Drinking Water

Fluoride

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced on Thursday morning that his office will charge Ryan Routh, who allegedly attempted to assassinate then-GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump on September 15, 2024, at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, with attempted murder and terrorism.
Uthmeier also asserted that the Biden administration had stonewalled the investigation into the matter, and that former President Joe Biden and former Attorney General Merrick Garland had “sought to frustrate our efforts and block our investigation.”
Trump was playing a round of golf on September 15 when Routh allegedly hid in a bush on the outside of the golf course with a semi-automatic rifle. The suspect was spotted by a Secret Service agent as Trump neared the would-be assassin’s hideout.
“On September 15, 2024, Ryan Routh attempted to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach,” Uthmeier declared. “Shortly after the assassination attempt, Governor DeSantis signed an executive order directing the Office of Attorney General to work with our law enforcement partners and investigate Mr. Routh.”
“After 206 days of stonewalling by the federal government that stemmed from days of the Biden administration, I’m able to now announce that my office is charging Mr. Routh for the attempted first-degree murder of President Trump as well as a charge for terrorism,” he stated. “My office, as well as our law-enforcement partners, were met with major roadblocks in prosecuting this case during Biden‘s term. Biden and his attorney general sought to frustrate our efforts and block our investigation into the man who crossed into this state and attempted to commit political violence against a Florida resident.”
“Thank God he was unsuccessful, and thank God we have Donald Trump as president again,” he stated, continuing, “The leadership of Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel was instrumental in preserving Florida’s sovereign authority to do what is right and bring justice where it is due. We now have a federal government willing to work together to pursue justice.”
“Attempting to take the life of a former president and a leading presidential candidate isn’t just an attack on one man,” he said. “This was a political attack against our republican form of government and our shared American values. We cannot allow justice to be delayed or denied, and thanks to the president, our U.S. Attorney General, and the FBI director, we are moving forward in our pursuit.”
“Our state-wide prosecutors will work to hold this evil man accountable and keep Florida safe, strong, and free,” he concluded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Today, my office is officially charging Ryan Routh for attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump.
Thanks to the leadership of <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AGPamBondi</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBIDirectorKash</a>, we now have a federal government willing to work with the states to pursue justice. <a href="https://t.co/HFuI2W4tdx">pic.twitter.com/HFuI2W4tdx</a>
&mdash; Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/1910305585658024207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Zach Jewell contributed to this article.

TOPSHOT-US-VOTE-TRUMP-GUN-SUSPECT

Florida AG Charging Ryan Routh With Attempted Murder Of Trump, Says Biden, Garland Blocked Probe

assassination attempt

Investigation

James Uthmeier

Joe Biden

Merrick Garland

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) said this week that the state was returning nearly $900 million to the federal government, something it tried to do repeatedly during the Biden administration.
&#8220;For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn&#8217;t even figure out how to accept it,&#8221; DeSantis said in a post on X.
The governor said that he met with Elon Musk on Friday and the rest of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team and was able to return the money.
&#8220;We got this done in the same day,&#8221; DeSantis said. &#8220;Other states should follow Florida in supporting DOGE&#8217;s efforts!&#8221;
The governor posted the letter that he sent to the U.S. Treasury Department alerting them that the state was formally returning $878,112,000.00 in taxpayer dollars to the federal government &#8220;as part of DOGE&#8217;s efforts.&#8221;
&#8220;We will also continue to identify other unused or surplus federal funding granted to Florida and determine if further refunds can be made,&#8221; the governor added in the letter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached by the Biden Administration—but they couldn&#8217;t even figure out how to accept it. Today, I met with <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@elonmusk</a> and the DOGE team, and we got this done in the… <a href="https://t.co/uWyloPAhBU">pic.twitter.com/uWyloPAhBU</a>
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1903225068571738347?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
Musk highlighted DeSantis&#8217; effort on X, writing: &#8220;Almost a billion dollars of your taxpayer money saved.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/casey-desantis-weighs-in-on-launching-bid-for-florida-governor">Casey DeSantis Weighs In On Launching Bid For Florida Governor</a>

The 2024 Republican National Convention

DeSantis Works With Musk To Return Staggering Sum Of Cash To Federal Government

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Elon Musk

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