Ron DeSantis

Florida has always been central to the American story. Long before the Declaration of Independence, Juan Ponce de Leon landed on Florida's shores, giving our state its name and opening a new chapter in the history of the New World. Today's unveiling of his statue in Leon County is another step in our America250FL initiative to celebrate our nation's founding, preserve our heritage, and ensure future generations understand where we came from.

Today, we unveiled a new statue of Juan Ponce de Leon at Florida's Capitol, honoring the explorer whose arrival in 1513 marked the beginning of Florida's written history and gave our state its name: La Florida. Florida's story began long before statehood or even at America's founding—it stretches back more than five centuries and helped shape the nation we know today. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Florida is leading the way by preserving and celebrating our history. While others tear down monuments and diminish our heritage, we are honoring the men and women who helped forge our civilization and teaching the next generation to take pride in our state's unique role in the American story.

I will be guest hosting the Sean Hannity radio program today from 3pm to 6pm. Tune in!

The approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on the 4th of July, 1776 represented the ultimate political gamble. The American revolutionaries were fighting against the world’s most powerful country, and the vast majority of colonists in America either opposed or were indifferent to independence. While the odds were slim, the consequences for failure were severe. All 56 men who later signed the Declaration faced an assured death by hanging were the Revolution to fail. And they had a lot to lose. The leaders of the Revolution were generally wealthy and influential in the colonies. But they had suffered what Jefferson called a “long train of abuses” over the previous decade, and believed that failure to take a stand would lead to the destruction of their liberty. So when they pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor, they meant it. The Declaration was the ultimate political line in the sand: rights are God-given, not government-granted; government is legitimate only upon the consent of the governed; and government’s purpose is to safeguard the natural rights of the people. What began as a conservative rebellion seeking the preservation of traditional English rights evolved into a political revolution that laid the foundation for the rise of the greatest republic in history — and that produced transformational consequences around the world. We as Americans in 2026 are inheritors of this legacy of liberty and the beneficiaries of the courage, wisdom and dedication of the Founding Fathers. We can acknowledge that our society and nation face a lot of problems. Whether there will be an America 500 celebration may very well depend on how this generation of Americans tackle these challenges. But there can be no doubt that we are fortunate to be citizens of this republic. And we have a small group of patriots, who took a risky stand 250 years ago, to thank for that. Happy America 250!

Last December, I signed an Executive Order to eliminate the influence of radical terrorist ideologies and the organizations that promote them in Florida. This year, I signed legislation to strengthen those protections and give Florida permanent statutory tools to combat terrorism while defending the Constitutional rights of our citizens.   Today, we are officially designating terrorist organizations under Florida law. In addition to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, we are adding Antifa to the list—along with more than 90 Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including cartels.

As part of our initiative to celebrate 250 years of the American experiment, we have commissioned statues of our Founding Fathers and other great Americans of history throughout Florida.   Today, we unveiled a replica of the iconic Liberty Bell, permanently installed in Liberty County. The inscription is just as relevant today as it was in 1776: "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof.”

Governor DeSantis Announces Implementation of Florida Law to Combat Terrorist Organizations x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

With America’s 250th anniversary around the corner, Florida is celebrating our nation’s history and enduring ideals. We have already unveiled statues of the Founding Fathers in all the counties that bear their names, and today, I was proud to present a replica of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell right here in Liberty County.   The Liberty Bell in Bristol will serve as a lasting tribute to America’s founding principles as part of our state’s ongoing initiative to honor our nation’s semiquincentennial.

Governor DeSantis Unveils Replica of Liberty Bell in Liberty County x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

The Illinois Railsplitter stands as one of America's greatest presidents.  While his life was cut short by an assassin's bullet, the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln has endured.

With America’s 250th anniversary just a few days away, I was proud to unveil a new statue of President Abraham Lincoln—the latest in our series honoring great Americans across Florida. His statue will stand here in The Villages as a symbol of dedication to the country and the sacrifice required to preserve this nation. President Lincoln was guided by the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence as he fought the Dred Scott decision and judicial supremacy, advocated for free labor, led the effort to abolish slavery, and worked to preserve the Union.

Governor DeSantis Unveils Statue of Abraham Lincoln in The Villages x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Over the last seven and a half years, Florida has set the national standard for conservative governance, while breaking record after record in economic strength, education, and environmental stewardship. We’ve delivered billions in tax relief to families while making historic investments in the priorities that matter most to Floridians. The FY 2026-2027 Budget I signed today reflects the core priorities I laid out from the beginning. This budget protects taxpayers’ interests, cuts spending for the fourth year in a row, and makes meaningful investments to build on Florida’s successes in education, public safety, environmental conservation, infrastructure, cancer research, and more. I’m proud that Florida continues to serve as the prime example of fiscal responsibility and government that works for the people of our state.

The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget marks the fourth straight year Florida has reduced its budget. We have large reserves and a full rainy day fund—more than triple the size from when I took office. We’ve paid down historic debt instead of passing the burden to future generations. The State of Florida has built a strong fiscal foundation because we manage taxpayers’ money responsibly. Florida’s per capita spending is one of the lowest in the nation. We have the fewest state employees per capita in the nation. We’ve achieved high levels of fiscal responsibility while also reducing taxes and making historic investment in infrastructure, education and Everglades restoration. In short, it can be done!

Governor DeSantis Signs Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

Florida did not become the Education State by accident. We got here by setting high expectations, empowering parents, supporting teachers, and refusing to settle for the status quo. For the first time ever, more than 60 percent of Florida students are now performing on or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics. This success demonstrates that our education reforms, like progress monitoring, are delivering real results for our students.

We have made historic investments in education—and Florida now leads the country in many measures of student success. Florida stayed focused on student achievement and enacted bold reforms to ensure all students can access high-quality education. One of our reforms, established in 2023, is the statewide progress monitoring system. Unlike end-of-year high-stakes testing, progress monitoring provides teachers, students, and parents with actionable data at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year to drive continuous academic improvement. This innovative approach is delivering results. Today in Polk County, I was proud to announce that our students broke records at the end of this latest school year. Compared to 2023, when we first implemented progress monitoring, the number of Florida students at or above grade level has grown by 12 percentage points in English and 9 percentage points in math.

12 — Diners, Drive-ins & DeSantis Not quite a dive, but Joe’s Stone Crab is a Florida icon. Great to host @shaunvlog_ and the Tartan Army from Scotland! Joe’s Stone Crab, Miami Beach, FL