Ron DeSantis fired back against Hope Florida “lawfare” by comparing the attacks to the persecution of Donald Trump

The Florida Governor isn’t backing down amid scrutiny over the program spearheaded by First Lady Casey DeSantis.

And Ron DeSantis fired back against Hope Florida “lawfare” by comparing the attacks to the persecution of Donald Trump.

DeSantis defends Hope Florida against “politically motivated” attacks

DeSantis has drawn parallels between the legal challenges he and his wife are facing and the “lawfare” tactics used against President Donald Trump and his nominees.

“Gov. DeSantis and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis have been subject to politically motivated ‘lawfare’ in the state of Florida, and now the same lawfare is being perpetrated against President Trump and his nominees,” Bryan Griffin, Communications Director for Governor DeSantis, told Fox News Digital on June 3.

Griffin added that the attacks are “ridiculous and especially shameful coming from Republicans who hate to see others delivering results.”

The Hope Florida Foundation has been under intense scrutiny following revelations about a $10 million donation from Centene Corporation, Florida’s largest Medicaid contractor.

The donation came as part of a $67 million settlement with the state over alleged pharmacy overcharges.

According to reports, the $10 million was subsequently distributed to two nonprofit organizations – Save Our Society from Drugs and Secure Florida’s Future – which then contributed millions to campaigns opposing Amendment 3, a ballot measure seeking to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida.

The amendment was fiercely opposed by Governor DeSantis, and the political committee leading the charge against it, Keep Florida Clean, was chaired by James Uthmeier, DeSantis’ then-Chief of Staff who now serves as Florida’s Attorney General.

DeSantis administration challenges investigation claims

Despite reports of an “open, ongoing investigation” by the Second Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s office into the Hope Florida Foundation, a senior official from DeSantis’s office has pushed back on these claims.

The official told Fox News Digital that “no official investigation is being conducted by the Leon County State Attorney’s office, despite reports that a record custodian in the state attorney’s office referred to the matter as ‘an open, ongoing investigation.'”

The controversy has drawn criticism from both Republican and Democratic state lawmakers.

Republican State Representative Alex Andrade has been particularly vocal, suggesting he would defer further inquiry to “the FBI and Department of Justice” and alleging that the movement of funds could constitute “conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud.”

First Lady defends Hope Florida’s mission

Casey DeSantis has been steadfast in her defense of Hope Florida, describing it as a “rewiring of the way that government operates” and a “model for the nation” that emphasizes a “hand up” rather than a “handout.”

Speaking at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solutions Summit on May 29, the First Lady addressed the controversy without directly mentioning the investigation.

“There’s a lot of misinformation right now about a lot,” she said. “There’s some positives though. It gives me a great opportunity to talk about the promise of what Hope Florida is doing to change the trajectory of a lot of people’s lives and to provide them with a pathway to happiness.”

The First Lady characterized Hope Florida not as a bureaucracy, agency, or charity, but as “an idea” aimed at reengineering “the way that government operates to help somebody on a pathway to economic self-sufficiency.”

Casey DeSantis also revealed that she had recently discussed Hope Florida with both President Donald Trump and former DOGE adviser Elon Musk, suggesting the program could serve as a model for other states.

“We are the only state that is taking a holistic approach to how you legitimately help people,” she stated. “We are the only state that incorporates the faith-based community, which you should ask yourself, is that why I’m getting a lot of heat right now?”

DeSantis pushes back on controversy

Governor DeSantis has consistently dismissed the investigations into Hope Florida as politically motivated attacks, particularly targeting his wife, whom he has publicly suggested could be a potential gubernatorial successor.

“Everything that’s been thrown at [Hope Florida] is pure politics,” he asserted.

The DeSantis administration has emphasized that the Hope Florida Foundation is separate from the state-run Hope Florida initiative and operates solely on private donations, not taxpayer money.

Jordan Kirkland, Deputy Communications Director for the Governor’s office, stated that the Governor and First Lady do not direct or oversee the Hope Florida Foundation, which has its own independent board that holds regular meetings.

The Department of Children and Families, which administers state benefits, has touted the impact of Hope Florida.

According to AdventHealth Executive Vice President Dr. Audrey Gregory, “Hope Florida has helped over 30,000 Floridians reduce or eliminate reliance on public assistance and also has saved taxpayers over $100 million over the course of a year.”

Casey DeSantis vowed to continue her work with Hope Florida despite the criticism.

“I’m never going to apologize for fighting for the vulnerable people in society,” she declared. “That’s just what I feel like I am called to do and I’m going to keep doing it.”

As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether it will impact Casey DeSantis’s potential gubernatorial ambitions.

The First Lady has been mentioned as a possible challenger to Donald Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds in next year’s Republican Gubernatorial Primary, though she has been noncommittal, saying people are “tired of politics” and noting that it’s “more than a year from qualifying.”