Ron DeSantis declared war on a Muslim civil rights organization.
The group responded with threats of a lawsuit.
And Ron DeSantis just gave CAIR exactly what they wanted.
DeSantis labels CAIR a terrorist organization
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made headlines Monday when he designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations.
The executive order directed Florida agencies to block access to state resources and deny privileges to anyone providing material support to either group.
DeSantis pointed to CAIR's designation as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2008 Holy Land Foundation trial — the largest terrorism financing case in U.S. history.
A federal jury convicted five Holy Land Foundation leaders of funneling more than $12 million to Hamas through Palestinian charity committees.¹
Ghassan Elashi, one of the convicted defendants who received a 65-year prison sentence, was also a founding board member of CAIR's Texas chapter.²
"CAIR was an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, it was the largest terror financing trial in the history of the United States of America," DeSantis stated at a press conference in North Miami Beach.³
https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1998156452377293228?s=20
The executive order claims CAIR was created to "conceal ties to Islamic extremist groups" and maintain connections to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood.⁴
CAIR promises lawsuit and DeSantis welcomes it
CAIR Florida wasted no time responding to the designation.
Deputy Executive Director Hiba Rahim called the executive order "illegal on its face" and "unconstitutional" during a Tuesday press conference.⁵
"We are taking legal action to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their background or political views, are protected equally under the law," Rahim announced.⁶
Here's where things get interesting.
Instead of backing down or softening his rhetoric, DeSantis doubled down and said he's eager for CAIR to sue.
"I welcome the lawsuit," DeSantis told reporters Tuesday. "That will give the State of Florida discovery rights to be able to subpoena the bank records."⁷
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1998235796458049799?s=20
Think about that for a second.
DeSantis isn't just comfortable with a lawsuit — he's practically begging for one.
And there's a reason for it.
State Attorney General James Uthmeier is "ready, willing, and able to be fighting" the case, DeSantis said.⁸
Texas Governor Greg Abbott made similar designations against CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood last month, and CAIR filed suit there too.⁹
But Florida's approach reveals a strategic calculation that CAIR may not have fully considered.
DeSantis turns lawsuit threat into discovery weapon
DeSantis essentially transformed CAIR's threatened lawsuit from a defensive move into an offensive opportunity.
A federal lawsuit gives Florida subpoena power to examine CAIR's financial records — something the state might not otherwise easily access.
"They have every right to sue and then we're going to have a right to get the information we need to make sure," DeSantis explained.¹⁰
CAIR claims its funding comes from "generous people of different faiths and backgrounds across America" and "charitable foundations."¹¹
But DeSantis clearly believes those bank records will tell a different story.
The Governor expects the Florida Legislature will pass follow-up legislation during the 2026 session that starts in January.
"Texas has a little bit more robust architecture in their statutes than Florida does," DeSantis said. "I think you're going to see the legislature probably mirror what Texas has done."¹²
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month declaring "certain chapters or other subdivisions of the Muslim Brotherhood shall be considered for designation as Foreign Terrorist organizations."¹³
https://twitter.com/RonDeSantis/status/1998587106260849142?s=20
The federal government moving in the same direction gives DeSantis political cover and potentially sets up coordination between state and federal investigations.
CAIR's response suggests they didn't anticipate DeSantis would flip the script on them.
"Unlike you and other AIPAC servants, we do not take money from foreign interests nor serve any foreign powers," CAIR stated. "We rely on the American people for support."¹⁴
That's a bold claim — one Florida will now have the legal power to verify.
DeSantis held his first official cabinet meeting as Governor in Israel in 2019, signaling his close alignment with the country.¹⁵
CAIR has spent years criticizing U.S. support for Israel's military operations in Gaza and the West Bank.
But attacking DeSantis for being too supportive of Israel while threatening to sue him is a strategic miscalculation.
The lawsuit gives Florida exactly what it wants — a path to examine CAIR's finances under oath with subpoena power.
CAIR Florida called the designation part of DeSantis pursuing "Israel First" policies instead of protecting his constituents.¹⁶
They better hope those bank records back up their claims about funding sources.
Because if they don't, this lawsuit could backfire in spectacular fashion.
¹ Charity & Security Network, "USA v. Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development," CharityAndSecurity.org, September 3, 2020.
² Anti-Defamation League, "The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development," ADL.org, May 20, 2024.
³ 7News Miami, "DeSantis reacts to possible lawsuit following declaration of Muslim civil rights group as terrorist organization," WSVN.com, December 9, 2025.
⁴ Florida Phoenix, "Gov. DeSantis welcomes lawsuit challenging CAIR's terrorist designation," FloridaPhoenix.com, December 9, 2025.
⁵ 7News Miami, "DeSantis reacts to possible lawsuit following declaration of Muslim civil rights group as terrorist organization," WSVN.com, December 9, 2025.
⁶ Al Jazeera, "Muslim group CAIR to sue Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over 'terror' label," AlJazeera.com, December 9, 2025.
⁷ Florida Phoenix, "Gov. DeSantis welcomes lawsuit challenging CAIR's terrorist designation," FloridaPhoenix.com, December 9, 2025.
⁸ Ibid.
⁹ Axios Houston, "Abbott designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR terrorist organizations," Axios.com, November 18, 2025.
¹⁰ Florida Phoenix, "Gov. DeSantis welcomes lawsuit challenging CAIR's terrorist designation," FloridaPhoenix.com, December 9, 2025.
¹¹ Florida Politics, "Gov. DeSantis welcomes CAIR lawsuit as chance to figure out who funds the Islamic group," FloridaPolitics.com, December 9, 2025.
¹² 7News Miami, "DeSantis reacts to possible lawsuit following declaration of Muslim civil rights group as terrorist organization," WSVN.com, December 9, 2025.
¹³ Florida Phoenix, "Gov. DeSantis welcomes lawsuit challenging CAIR's terrorist designation," FloridaPhoenix.com, December 9, 2025.
¹⁴ Maktoob Media, "US Muslim group CAIR to sue Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over 'foreign terrorist' designation," MaktoobMedia.com, December 10, 2025.
¹⁵ Al Jazeera, "Muslim group CAIR to sue Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over 'terror' label," AlJazeera.com, December 9, 2025.
¹⁶ Ibid.
