DeSantis Messes With Trump, Regrets

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing a growing firestorm over a controversy involving a $10 million payout tied to his wife’s welfare initiative, raising serious questions about misuse of state settlement funds and political retaliation may be looming. The trouble centers on money linked to the Hope Florida Foundation, which operates under First Lady Casey DeSantis’s Hope Florida program. Critics say the foundation inappropriately used funds to help defeat a recreational marijuana ballot measure last year, a campaign DeSantis personally opposed.

The money came from a Medicaid settlement with Centene, the state’s largest Medicaid contractor. Florida had originally sought to recover $67 million after Centene overbilled the state. But instead of all the money going back to taxpayers and federal accounts, $10 million allegedly went through the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity closely tied to the governor’s wife. From there, it reportedly made its way to nonprofits that actively campaigned against the marijuana initiative one of which funneled money to a political action committee linked to DeSantis’s then-chief of staff, James Uthmeier.

Although the governor has denied any wrongdoing, Florida media published a draft agreement Tuesday that appears to contradict his public statements. The document is adding fuel to the political fire, especially as the DeSantises consider their future in state and national politics.

One Florida Republican operative acknowledged the potential damage, saying, “It’s certainly not good for the first family. I think it has a greater impact on her ability to run for governor more than anything else.”

This controversy is unfolding just months after DeSantis’s high-profile fallout with former President Trump, who openly mocked his failed 2024 presidential bid and accused him of disloyalty. Many Republicans now see this turn of events as political karma.

“He should’ve never messed with Trump,” one GOP strategist said bluntly. “Now he’s politically bleeding in his own backyard.”

What began as a policy spat with Trump has now evolved into a deeper crisis, with DeSantis facing scrutiny from within his own party. Even Republicans in the Florida House are beginning to question how this money was used and why it appeared to benefit partisan political efforts through what’s supposed to be a charitable welfare initiative.

As investigations pick up steam and the political pressure builds, allies of Trump and even some DeSantis supporters are keeping a close eye on how this scandal plays out. For Ron DeSantis, it’s clear that turning on Trump didn’t just cost him the presidency it may cost him his hold on Florida too.