DeSantis accuses Trump of "taking sides" with Disney on campaign trail

Florida's two most powerful Republican presidential hopefuls sparred on Memorial Day over Walt Disney World.

Speaking on Fox & Friends show Monday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis took former President Donald Trump to task for "taking the side of Disney in our fight down here in Florida."

Trump, however, posted on Sunday that the theme park empire has "become a Woke and Disgusting shadow of its former self" but said "this all happened during the Governorship of 'Rob' DeSanctimonious."

The sparring over Disney in Florida suggests the governor's assault on the company's self-governing status in retribution for its former CEO speaking out on legislation will be a 2024 campaign issue among Trump, who leads in polls, and DeSantis, still seen as his most formidable rival.

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DeSantis-Disney feud began with Florida education law

The fight between the governor and GOP lawmakers against the Disney company has boiled over for more than a year. Sparked by the global entertainment giant's criticism of Florida's 2022 Parental Rights in Education law, dubbed by critics as the "Don't say gay" measure, Disney and the governor have sued and countersued as well as tug-of-war over a self-governing board.

Earlier this month, Disney CEO Bob Iger suggested the the company would rethink some $17 billion in investments, and 13,000 new jobs, as the Legislature approved new restrictions on the company and the governor mi=used about building a prison next to its Orlando theme parks. Disney then announced it was canceling plans for a $1 billion headquarters in Lake Nona, Fla., where it planned to base 2,000 employees.

Trump has been critical of the governor's handling of the fight with Disney saying it would potentially hurt the state economically. However, the former president has not backed the Burbank-based company per se, but only has criticized DeSantis saying he has mismanaged the feud and called it "unnecessary."

Other Florida Republicans have also cautioned the governor, including U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio. Other national Republicans have been critical of the governor, saying he risks coming across as pursuing a vendetta against the company and dismissive of corporate economic and employment investment, which is an important issue in many states.

Trump blames DeSantis for Disney feud, but hasn't elaborated on what governor should have done

Trump's comments, posted on his Truth Social platform, were his sharpest to-date on the Disney company. But Trump has not elaborated on why he sees Disney as a "woke" corporation or what he believes DeSantis could have done differently.

DeSantis' slap at Trump over Disney followed the governor's assertion that the former president is moving to "the left" on cultural issues, including abortion.

The governor has attempted to draw sharp contrasts between his policies in Florida against Trump's on certain issues. While DeSantis signed a six-week ban on abortions in Florida, for example, Trump, in a CNN town hall this month, would not say what further constraints he would support on reproductive rights other than to say the overturn of the Roe v. Wade decision opened the door to "negotiating."

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Memorial Day sparring between DeSantis, Trump on "woke" Disney