As Trump casts a shadow over Florida politics, DeSantis' influence in Tallahassee diminishes
The governor struggled to gain legislative support for all his initiatives on illegal immigration. However, Trump’s influence has strengthened significantly.
TroibNews 
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A fierce battle over illegal immigration is unfolding among Florida’s leading Republicans, all vying for the support of one key figure: Donald Trump.
In light of Trump's presidency, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently urged Florida legislators to enact a range of illegal immigration proposals, which he claimed were formulated in consultation with the president and his administration. However, GOP legislative leaders moved forward with their own bill, asserting that their approach aligns more closely with Trump's vision — and that they too have access to the president's insights.
Trump has refrained from publicly entering the fray, though he did express on Truth Social earlier this month his desire for more states to update their laws in support of his immigration executive orders, with Florida appearing to lead the charge. The situation has highlighted Trump’s significant influence in the Sunshine State, revealing a decline in DeSantis’s control.
Tensions have escalated within the ranks, with insults exchanged online as various factions — including DeSantis, his backers, legislators, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson — engage in an escalating dispute.
“I guess the boxing gloves are on,” remarked state Rep. Mike Caruso, who ultimately voted against the legislation.
DeSantis once leveraged his connection with Trump to secure the governorship but later faced Trump in the 2024 primary without success. Despite their initial animosity, they have since spent time together on the golf course. Trump even considered DeSantis for the role of Defense secretary, while the governor has expressed commitment to furthering the president’s agenda in Florida.
On Monday, DeSantis summoned lawmakers to Tallahassee to push for the passage of new bills, a strategy he has been accustomed to during his tenure. However, in an unprecedented move, the legislators quickly concluded that special session and initiated their own, introducing proposals that met some of DeSantis's demands but not all.
To exacerbate the situation for DeSantis, lawmakers established a chief immigration officer position, which he sought to place under his direct oversight, but instead appointed Simpson, with whom DeSantis has not always seen eye to eye. As if to emphasize that the governor no longer dictates the agenda, legislators also overrode a nearly $57 million veto from the budget meant for supportive services.
State House Speaker Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton are challenging DeSantis to veto the immigration legislation, which bears Trump’s name. The Senate bill was introduced by state Sen. Joe Gruters, a longstanding Trump ally unafraid to confront DeSantis, even at the height of the governor's power. Gruters contended that the legislation he filed represents “what the president ultimately needs from us here in Florida,” noting that he had discussed it with Trump.
“I’m glad the governor has highlighted immigration as a priority to help the president and with that I’m in all agreement,” Gruters stated. “But I like our path better.”
DeSantis appears ready to reject the legislators' bill or continue pushing for more stringent measures. He has criticized the “watered-down” bill on social media and during an appearance on Sean Hannity's show.
In a detailed statement shared on X, DeSantis called the legislation “substantially weaker” than his original proposals. In a separate commentary, he accused the Legislature of “squishing out.” When lawmakers added more provisions on Tuesday, allegedly not to appease DeSantis but at the behest of the Trump administration, the governor labeled the revised bill “weak, weak, weak.”
Nevertheless, DeSantis’s previous tactics of mounting pressure through virtual and television channels seem to be losing effectiveness. Lawmakers have accused him of misleading them regarding their bill and have proceeded regardless, marking a significant setback for DeSantis, particularly since his disappointing second-place finish to Trump in the Iowa caucuses a year ago, which forced him out of the presidential race. With the governor facing term limits in early 2027, he has not ruled out a future presidential run in 2028.
When discussing the lawmakers' stances toward the governor, state Rep. Lawrence McClure, who introduced the House bill, noted that “It was unprecedented for the governor to use some of the tactics that he’s used.” He emphasized the significant connection between the legislative process and Trump.
“You had a president who was elected for four years — who was unseated for four years — that was just reelected for four years and quite frankly put through hell and back in his reentry to the presidency. That’s compelling,” he stated. “I think it’s only the second time in American history that that has happened, and I don’t think anyone is confused what his No. 1 discussion point on the campaign trail was for four years.”
The legislative pushback, interpreted as a shift in dynamics within Tallahassee, poses challenges for DeSantis in achieving his broader objectives. During his 2024 presidential campaign, DeSantis often portrayed himself as a more capable version of Trump, yet he failed to acknowledge how much his agenda depended on a cooperative Legislature, even as numerous GOP lawmakers traveled to Iowa in inclement weather to support him. Now, the realization dawns that Trump holds the key to actualizing DeSantis's immigration ambitions.
“It's a new day in Tallahassee, and I think the Legislature is going to step up,” observed state Sen. Randy Fine on Monday. “And it's unfortunate. I think if he had ever learned to be collaborative, I think we would be at a different outcome. But sometimes people need to be set right, and that's what's happened to him today.”
Some lawmakers expressed frustration regarding the legislative process. Rep. Fiona McFarland shared her concerns about the haste of special sessions, indicating that such urgency is challenging for both lawmakers and constituents. “I just talked to my sheriff as I was walking over here,” she remarked. “I would have liked to talk to my schools as well.”
State Rep. Taylor Yarkosky praised DeSantis as “the greatest governor we have ever had” but acknowledged that he believed the speaker "has absolutely got this right" since lawmakers leveraged Trump’s executive orders as the standard for the bill.
“I don't think there's one person in this chamber that likes what's going on,” he added. “No one wants to get up and come into a special session to fight — we want to come in and get work done, because we all look at this as the greatest honor of our lives, to be able to serve in here and do this work. So I just refuse to acquiesce and get involved in the leadership or interpersonal issues there.”
State Sen. Shevrin Jones reflected on the historical context of legislative dynamics, noting that during his initial election to the House in 2012, the two branches operated independently. However, he observed a significant change since DeSantis took office in 2019. Following Monday’s session, it appeared that the legislative and executive branches had regained their independence.
“The governor, the king, has fallen,” proclaimed state Sen. Shevrin Jones. “The governor is not the king of the Legislature.”
Arek Sarkissian, Isa Domínguez, and Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
In light of Trump's presidency, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently urged Florida legislators to enact a range of illegal immigration proposals, which he claimed were formulated in consultation with the president and his administration. However, GOP legislative leaders moved forward with their own bill, asserting that their approach aligns more closely with Trump's vision — and that they too have access to the president's insights.
Trump has refrained from publicly entering the fray, though he did express on Truth Social earlier this month his desire for more states to update their laws in support of his immigration executive orders, with Florida appearing to lead the charge. The situation has highlighted Trump’s significant influence in the Sunshine State, revealing a decline in DeSantis’s control.
Tensions have escalated within the ranks, with insults exchanged online as various factions — including DeSantis, his backers, legislators, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson — engage in an escalating dispute.
“I guess the boxing gloves are on,” remarked state Rep. Mike Caruso, who ultimately voted against the legislation.
DeSantis once leveraged his connection with Trump to secure the governorship but later faced Trump in the 2024 primary without success. Despite their initial animosity, they have since spent time together on the golf course. Trump even considered DeSantis for the role of Defense secretary, while the governor has expressed commitment to furthering the president’s agenda in Florida.
On Monday, DeSantis summoned lawmakers to Tallahassee to push for the passage of new bills, a strategy he has been accustomed to during his tenure. However, in an unprecedented move, the legislators quickly concluded that special session and initiated their own, introducing proposals that met some of DeSantis's demands but not all.
To exacerbate the situation for DeSantis, lawmakers established a chief immigration officer position, which he sought to place under his direct oversight, but instead appointed Simpson, with whom DeSantis has not always seen eye to eye. As if to emphasize that the governor no longer dictates the agenda, legislators also overrode a nearly $57 million veto from the budget meant for supportive services.
State House Speaker Danny Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton are challenging DeSantis to veto the immigration legislation, which bears Trump’s name. The Senate bill was introduced by state Sen. Joe Gruters, a longstanding Trump ally unafraid to confront DeSantis, even at the height of the governor's power. Gruters contended that the legislation he filed represents “what the president ultimately needs from us here in Florida,” noting that he had discussed it with Trump.
“I’m glad the governor has highlighted immigration as a priority to help the president and with that I’m in all agreement,” Gruters stated. “But I like our path better.”
DeSantis appears ready to reject the legislators' bill or continue pushing for more stringent measures. He has criticized the “watered-down” bill on social media and during an appearance on Sean Hannity's show.
In a detailed statement shared on X, DeSantis called the legislation “substantially weaker” than his original proposals. In a separate commentary, he accused the Legislature of “squishing out.” When lawmakers added more provisions on Tuesday, allegedly not to appease DeSantis but at the behest of the Trump administration, the governor labeled the revised bill “weak, weak, weak.”
Nevertheless, DeSantis’s previous tactics of mounting pressure through virtual and television channels seem to be losing effectiveness. Lawmakers have accused him of misleading them regarding their bill and have proceeded regardless, marking a significant setback for DeSantis, particularly since his disappointing second-place finish to Trump in the Iowa caucuses a year ago, which forced him out of the presidential race. With the governor facing term limits in early 2027, he has not ruled out a future presidential run in 2028.
When discussing the lawmakers' stances toward the governor, state Rep. Lawrence McClure, who introduced the House bill, noted that “It was unprecedented for the governor to use some of the tactics that he’s used.” He emphasized the significant connection between the legislative process and Trump.
“You had a president who was elected for four years — who was unseated for four years — that was just reelected for four years and quite frankly put through hell and back in his reentry to the presidency. That’s compelling,” he stated. “I think it’s only the second time in American history that that has happened, and I don’t think anyone is confused what his No. 1 discussion point on the campaign trail was for four years.”
The legislative pushback, interpreted as a shift in dynamics within Tallahassee, poses challenges for DeSantis in achieving his broader objectives. During his 2024 presidential campaign, DeSantis often portrayed himself as a more capable version of Trump, yet he failed to acknowledge how much his agenda depended on a cooperative Legislature, even as numerous GOP lawmakers traveled to Iowa in inclement weather to support him. Now, the realization dawns that Trump holds the key to actualizing DeSantis's immigration ambitions.
“It's a new day in Tallahassee, and I think the Legislature is going to step up,” observed state Sen. Randy Fine on Monday. “And it's unfortunate. I think if he had ever learned to be collaborative, I think we would be at a different outcome. But sometimes people need to be set right, and that's what's happened to him today.”
Some lawmakers expressed frustration regarding the legislative process. Rep. Fiona McFarland shared her concerns about the haste of special sessions, indicating that such urgency is challenging for both lawmakers and constituents. “I just talked to my sheriff as I was walking over here,” she remarked. “I would have liked to talk to my schools as well.”
State Rep. Taylor Yarkosky praised DeSantis as “the greatest governor we have ever had” but acknowledged that he believed the speaker "has absolutely got this right" since lawmakers leveraged Trump’s executive orders as the standard for the bill.
“I don't think there's one person in this chamber that likes what's going on,” he added. “No one wants to get up and come into a special session to fight — we want to come in and get work done, because we all look at this as the greatest honor of our lives, to be able to serve in here and do this work. So I just refuse to acquiesce and get involved in the leadership or interpersonal issues there.”
State Sen. Shevrin Jones reflected on the historical context of legislative dynamics, noting that during his initial election to the House in 2012, the two branches operated independently. However, he observed a significant change since DeSantis took office in 2019. Following Monday’s session, it appeared that the legislative and executive branches had regained their independence.
“The governor, the king, has fallen,” proclaimed state Sen. Shevrin Jones. “The governor is not the king of the Legislature.”
Arek Sarkissian, Isa Domínguez, and Andrew Atterbury contributed to this report.
Debra A Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
