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Ron DeSantis

The latest news on Ron DeSantis, American politician and governor of Florida, including United States news and politics in the United States.

Born

14 Sep 1978

Industry

Politics

Job Title

Politician

Workers installing the ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ sign near the facility in 2025. The centre in the Florida Everglades has now been closed. Photo: TNS

United States

Controversial US migrant detention facility dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ has closed

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the facility, which had been denounced as inhumane by civil rights groups, fulfilled its role.

26 Jun 2026 - 11:47AM

United States

Trump’s name cleared to land on Palm Beach airport

20 Feb 2026 - 5:38PM

US-China relations

US appeal court says Florida can ban Chinese citizens from property purchases

7 Nov 2025 - 8:13AMvideocam

United States

Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ can stay open for now, US appeal court rules

A lower court judge had previously ordered that the detention centre be dismantled and said no new migrants should be brought in.

5 Sep 2025 - 5:46AM

People take pictures in front of a sign reading “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Florida Everglades in August. Photo: AP

United States

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ ordered to close, potentially costing Florida US$218m

The controversial detention facility is being emptied as a judge rules it violated environmental laws.

29 Aug 2025 - 2:38PM

United States

Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ likely to be empty within days: Florida official

A judge has ordered the controversial immigration detention facility to be shut down.

28 Aug 2025 - 3:26AM

United States

Explainer | Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ faces closure. What happens now?

A US judge has ordered that the immigration detention centre in the Florida Everglades be shut within two months.

23 Aug 2025 - 9:27AMvideocam

US President Donald Trump visits a temporary migrant detention center informally known as “Alligator Alcatraz” on July 1. Photo: Reuters

United States

After ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, Florida unveils plans for ‘Deportation Depot’

The detention centre will be housed at a state prison and could hold up to 2,000 immigrants.

15 Aug 2025 - 1:34AM

United States

Texas redistricting gambit ignites national arms race to control US Congress

Texas Republicans move to redraw congressional map, prompting threats of retaliation from Democratic governors in other states.

6 Aug 2025 - 12:46PM

US immigration

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees held without charges, lawyers say

Immigration lawyers who claim 100 people have already been deported are seeking a restraining order against the Florida detention centre.

29 Jul 2025 - 2:35AM

Giant tents built at the recently opened migrant detention centre “Alligator Alcatraz” at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida. Photo: Miami Herald / TNS

Donald Trump

Inside Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: worms in food, sewage near beds

The US president and his allies have praised the detention centre’s harshness, hoping it will help persuade immigrants to ‘self-deport’.

12 Jul 2025 - 5:42AM

Two workers put up an “Alligator Alcatraz” sign at the entrance of the migrant detention centre in Ochopee, Florida, on July 2. Photo: TNS

Donald Trump

Trump tours ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, wants more deportation facilities like it

The remote migrant detention centre is located in the Florida Everglades, in a wetland teeming with alligators, crocodiles and pythons.

2 Jul 2025 - 10:49AM

Marco Rubio

Meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s siblings Mario, Barbara and Veronica

Marco Rubio’s brother Mario Rubio is an army veteran who also worked in government, while their sister Barbara’s husband worked for zookeeper Mario Tabraue and served 12 years in jail.

7 May 2025 - 5:00AMvideocam

US presidential election 2024

Analysis | Hubris, infighting, awkward moments: how DeSantis 2024 unravelled

Ron DeSantis entered the 2024 presidential race last May with swagger, high expectations and US$130 million in the bank. He exited the race on Sunday less than a year later with cratering poll numbers.

22 Jan 2024 - 2:13PM

Ron DeSantis listens to a question from an audience member at a campaign event in Waukee, Iowa, earlier this month. Photo: Reuters

US presidential election 2024

Explainer | Can Trump be stopped? Key questions after DeSantis exits

Donald Trump’s effort to march to the Republican presidential nomination faces perhaps its greatest challenge on Tuesday when voters in New Hampshire hold the first-in-the-nation primary.

22 Jan 2024 - 4:38PM

Donald Trump walks on to the stage at a rally in Concord, New Hampshire. Photo: Reuters

US presidential election 2024

Ron DeSantis ends 2024 campaign, endorses Donald Trump

On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, the Florida governor ended a White House bid that failed to meet expectations he would emerge as a serious challenger to the former US president.

22 Jan 2024 - 4:26PM

US presidential election 2024

Trump dominates Iowa caucus, DeSantis edges Haley for second

Donald Trump’s victory on Monday night gives him a strong start in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination as the contest moves to New Hampshire.

16 Jan 2024 - 5:08PMvideocam

US-China relations

Anti-Chinese laws take toll in Florida as Ron DeSantis’ presidential run falters

The Florida governor has built his campaign partly on moves against Chinese staff at state universities and restrictions on property purchases.

13 Jan 2024 - 7:02AMvideocam

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday in Des Moines at the final Republican presidential debate before the Iowa caucuses. Photo: TheNEWS2 via ZUMA/dpa

US presidential election 2024

Haley and DeSantis turn fire on Trump in Republican 2024 race

South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis battle for a distant second place to former president Donald Trump with less than two weeks until Iowa’s leadoff caucuses.

5 Jan 2024 - 2:51PM

US-China relations

DeSantis says China creates conflict by propping up Russia and Iran

The 2024 US presidential hopeful linked Beijing to the Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars, and called the Asian superpower a ‘formidable threat’ to the US.

28 Oct 2023 - 2:34AMvideocam

Ukraine war

DeSantis says Ukraine joining Nato isn’t in best interest of US

The Republican presidential hopeful says such a move would mean more obligations for the us, and added that Washington should not give Kyiv a ‘blank cheque’.

24 Sep 2023 - 7:33AM

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a campaign event in Midland, Texas, on Wednesday. Photo: TNS

Natural disasters

Biden visits Florida in Hurricane Idalia’s wake, but DeSantis won’t meet him

The governor and 2024 presidential hopeful may not want to be photographed with Biden overlooking storm damage now as the Republican primary race intensifies.

3 Sep 2023 - 4:21AM

US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden speak with a woman during their tour of Hurricane Idalia storm destruction in Live Oak, Florida, on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

US presidential election 2024

DeSantis replaces campaign manager as 2024 US presidential bid flounders

James Uthmeier will take over from long-time aide Generra Peck, as the Florida governor trails Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination.

9 Aug 2023 - 8:09AM

US-China relations

Ron DeSantis lashes out at China and corporate power in campaign speech

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, unveiled a broad economic policy zeroing in on China’s rise.

1 Aug 2023 - 10:13AM

US presidential election 2024

DeSantis cuts a third of presidential campaign staff as he seeks urgent reset

The Florida governor, thought to be Trump’s chief rival in the Republican primary contest, is in financial trouble as his stumbling campaign burns through cash.

26 Jul 2023 - 6:06AMvideocam

Florida Govenor Ron DeSantis takes part in a roundtable discussion at the American Museum of the Cuba Diaspora in Miami on July 13. Photo: TNS

US-China relations

US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis supports revoking China’s trade status

If he won the 2024 White House race, Republican DeSantis said he would take steps to revoke China’s permanent normal trade relations status. The US Senate voted in 2000 to grant normal trade relations status to China.

10 Jul 2023 - 12:48AM

Republican presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at a campaign rally in Eagle Pass, Texas on June 26. Photo: Getty Images / TNS

US presidential election 2024

Ron DeSantis quiet on Trump indictment as he faces conservatives in Trump country

Speaking to Nevada Republicans for the first time as a presidential candidate, the Florida governor said the US ‘is off the rails’. He made no direct mention of the federal indictment of chief Republican rival Donald Trump.

18 Jun 2023 - 7:25AMvideocam

US presidential election 2024

DeSantis dares Newsom to take on Biden in 2024

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida escalated his feud with California Governor Gavin Newsom, daring him to ‘stop pussyfooting around’ and launch a primary challenge against US President Joe Biden.

16 Jun 2023 - 1:55PM

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Ron DeSantis

Controversial US migrant detention facility dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ has closed

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said the facility, which had been denounced as inhumane by civil rights groups, fulfilled its role.

Trump’s name cleared to land on Palm Beach airport

US appeal court says Florida can ban Chinese citizens from property purchases

Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ can stay open for now, US appeal court rules

A lower court judge had previously ordered that the detention centre be dismantled and said no new migrants should be brought in.

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ ordered to close, potentially costing Florida US$218m

The controversial detention facility is being emptied as a judge rules it violated environmental laws.

Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ likely to be empty within days: Florida official

A judge has ordered the controversial immigration detention facility to be shut down.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Explainer | Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ faces closure. What happens now?

A US judge has ordered that the immigration detention centre in the Florida Everglades be shut within two months.

After ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, Florida unveils plans for ‘Deportation Depot’

The detention centre will be housed at a state prison and could hold up to 2,000 immigrants.

Texas redistricting gambit ignites national arms race to control US Congress

Texas Republicans move to redraw congressional map, prompting threats of retaliation from Democratic governors in other states.

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detainees held without charges, lawyers say

Immigration lawyers who claim 100 people have already been deported are seeking a restraining order against the Florida detention centre.

Inside Trump’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’: worms in food, sewage near beds

The US president and his allies have praised the detention centre’s harshness, hoping it will help persuade immigrants to ‘self-deport’.

Trump tours ‘Alligator Alcatraz’, wants more deportation facilities like it

The remote migrant detention centre is located in the Florida Everglades, in a wetland teeming with alligators, crocodiles and pythons.

Meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s siblings Mario, Barbara and Veronica

Marco Rubio’s brother Mario Rubio is an army veteran who also worked in government, while their sister Barbara’s husband worked for zookeeper Mario Tabraue and served 12 years in jail.

Analysis | Hubris, infighting, awkward moments: how DeSantis 2024 unravelled

Ron DeSantis entered the 2024 presidential race last May with swagger, high expectations and US$130 million in the bank. He exited the race on Sunday less than a year later with cratering poll numbers.

Explainer | Can Trump be stopped? Key questions after DeSantis exits

Donald Trump’s effort to march to the Republican presidential nomination faces perhaps its greatest challenge on Tuesday when voters in New Hampshire hold the first-in-the-nation primary.

Ron DeSantis ends 2024 campaign, endorses Donald Trump

On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, the Florida governor ended a White House bid that failed to meet expectations he would emerge as a serious challenger to the former US president.

Trump dominates Iowa caucus, DeSantis edges Haley for second

Donald Trump’s victory on Monday night gives him a strong start in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination as the contest moves to New Hampshire.

Anti-Chinese laws take toll in Florida as Ron DeSantis’ presidential run falters

The Florida governor has built his campaign partly on moves against Chinese staff at state universities and restrictions on property purchases.

Haley and DeSantis turn fire on Trump in Republican 2024 race

South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis battle for a distant second place to former president Donald Trump with less than two weeks until Iowa’s leadoff caucuses.

DeSantis says China creates conflict by propping up Russia and Iran

The 2024 US presidential hopeful linked Beijing to the Ukraine and Israel-Gaza wars, and called the Asian superpower a ‘formidable threat’ to the US.

DeSantis says Ukraine joining Nato isn’t in best interest of US

The Republican presidential hopeful says such a move would mean more obligations for the us, and added that Washington should not give Kyiv a ‘blank cheque’.

Biden visits Florida in Hurricane Idalia’s wake, but DeSantis won’t meet him

The governor and 2024 presidential hopeful may not want to be photographed with Biden overlooking storm damage now as the Republican primary race intensifies.

DeSantis replaces campaign manager as 2024 US presidential bid flounders

James Uthmeier will take over from long-time aide Generra Peck, as the Florida governor trails Donald Trump in the race for the Republican nomination.

Ron DeSantis lashes out at China and corporate power in campaign speech

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, unveiled a broad economic policy zeroing in on China’s rise.

DeSantis cuts a third of presidential campaign staff as he seeks urgent reset

The Florida governor, thought to be Trump’s chief rival in the Republican primary contest, is in financial trouble as his stumbling campaign burns through cash.

US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis supports revoking China’s trade status

If he won the 2024 White House race, Republican DeSantis said he would take steps to revoke China’s permanent normal trade relations status. The US Senate voted in 2000 to grant normal trade relations status to China.

Ron DeSantis quiet on Trump indictment as he faces conservatives in Trump country

Speaking to Nevada Republicans for the first time as a presidential candidate, the Florida governor said the US ‘is off the rails’. He made no direct mention of the federal indictment of chief Republican rival Donald Trump.

DeSantis dares Newsom to take on Biden in 2024

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida escalated his feud with California Governor Gavin Newsom, daring him to ‘stop pussyfooting around’ and launch a primary challenge against US President Joe Biden.

Explainer | Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ faces closure. What happens now?