Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday brushed off legal action taken against him by Walt Disney Co (DIS.N), describing it as politically motivated and accusing the global entertainment giant of lacking accountability and transparency.
"I don't think the suit has merit, I think it's political," DeSantis told reporters in Jerusalem, his latest stop on an international tour before an expected announcement of a presidential run that would pit him against former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.
Florida passed legislation ending special conditions that gave Disney virtual autonomy in the Florida district where Disney World is located.
"They had no transparency, no accountability, none of that, and that arrangement was not good for the state of Florida," DeSantis said. "We did not think that that should continue, so we now have brought accountability."
Disney, which has criticised the Florida classroom measure, says the state government has illegally punished it for voicing an opinion that should be protected by free speech rights. Shares of the company's stock were up 1.4% on Thursday after falling on Wednesday.
Initially, DeSantis won plaudits from supporters in Florida and the base of the Republican party, but he has of late been criticized for what has turned into a legal imbroglio.
Trump has said DeSantis is being outwitted by the global entertainment giant, while fellow Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, suggested the company could move to her state.
