Ron DeSantis is fed up with the political attacks against his family.
The Florida Governor is fighting back against his critics.
And Ron DeSantis just dropped this bomb on Democrats investigating his wife’s signature program.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to defending his wife and her signature initiative from what he calls politically-motivated attacks.
At a press conference in Fruitland Park on Tuesday, DeSantis blasted critics who had launched a legislative probe into the controversial $10 million appropriation to the Hope Florida program, championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis.
“It was all political. Of course it was,” DeSantis declared. “People smear what they fear.”
The Governor didn’t hold back, suggesting the investigation was nothing more than a hit job against a program – and a First Lady – that threatened his opponents’ worldview.
“And if Hope Florida represents a threat to their worldview, they’re going to go at it. If the First Lady represents a threat, potentially to what they’re doing. So it was all manufactured,” DeSantis added.
The legislative investigation fell apart after witnesses declined to testify, effectively shutting down any inquiry until at least the committee weeks preceding the 2026 Legislative Session.
The controversy centers around $10 million that came from a Medicaid settlement and was ultimately channeled through political committees to fund messaging against citizens’ initiatives last year.
But rather than playing defense, the Governor and First Lady went on offense at the press conference, announcing that Lake County would join Orange County in working to “identify and train” Hope Florida liaisons.
“The Florida Department of Education is now working a pilot program that identifies and trains a Hope Florida liaison at each school in select school districts,” the Governor explained.
He outlined how these liaisons would serve as dedicated staff members who can connect students, parents, and staff with Hope Florida resources, helping families navigate the system and receive needed assistance.
DeSantis emphasized that the program would specifically help children with developmental disabilities and those facing difficulties at home, including assistance finding employment for parents who need jobs.
First Lady Casey DeSantis, standing alongside her husband, reframed critics’ understanding of Hope Florida, saying it offered “help finding help” for parents of children with “unique abilities.”
“It’s not a program,” she insisted. “It’s a philosophy.”
Education Secretary Manny Diaz joined the DeSantises in praising Hope Florida’s capabilities, noting its ability to “make all these connections” and expressing his enthusiasm for the initiative’s expansion.
“I look forward to this growing across all 67 districts,” Diaz said.
The failed investigation represents a victory for the DeSantis administration, which has consistently portrayed Hope Florida as a compassionate initiative to help struggling families navigate state resources and connect with community partners.
Meanwhile, critics continue to question the appropriation of funds and whether the program’s expansion serves political rather than practical purposes.
With the legislative probe effectively stalled until 2026, the DeSantises clearly intend to continue expanding Hope Florida’s reach throughout Florida’s school districts, positioning it as a key component of their education and family support agenda.
