Andrew Tate expresses disappointment in Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for
caving to media pressure
[March 04, 2025]
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Andrew Tate said he was disappointed in
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday while speaking on a podcast several
days after he and his brother, Tristan, who are charged with human
trafficking in Romania, returned to the U.S.
Andrew Tate appeared on the PBD Podcast, hosted by Patrick Bet-David,
and said DeSantis likely caved to media pressure last week when he told
reporters that the Tates weren't welcome in Florida, after they landed
in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. DeSantis said Florida’s attorney general
was examining whether the state may have any jurisdiction over the
brothers’ alleged crimes, and if so, how to hold them accountable. In
court documents, the Tates have said they are not and have never been
Florida residents.
“I don’t know why Ron’s answer wasn’t, ‘He has an American passport. The
judicial system in Romania, which I know absolutely nothing about,
decided to let him fly, and he’s flown to his home country. As far as
we’re concerned, he’s broken no laws,’" Tate said. “Instead, what he did
was say: 'We’re going to get our attorney general to try and find some
laws he’s broken and wreck this man who’s done nothing inside of the
United States ever.'"
In contrast, Tate described U.S. President Donald Trump as “such a boss”
in his response to reporters about the Tate brothers. A reporter asked
Trump if his administration had pressured the Romanian government to
release the brothers, and Trump said, “I know nothing about that.”
Andrew Tate, 38, is a former professional kickboxer and self-described
misogynist who has amassed more than 10 million followers on the social
platform X. He and his brother Tristan Tate, 36, are vocal supporters of
Trump.
Andrew reiterated on Monday that he has not been convicted of any
crimes.
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Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrive, Thursday, Feb.
27, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The brothers were charged with
human trafficking in Romania and arrived in the U.S. after
authorities lifted travel restrictions. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
 “Isn’t the whole point of democracy,
innocent until proven guilty?” Tate said. “I’ve yet to even have a
trial, let alone a conviction. I’ve never even been tried after
three years. I’ve never been to trial.”
Andrew Tate is a hugely successful social media figure, attracting
millions of followers, many of them young men and schoolchildren
drawn in by the luxurious lifestyle the influencer projects online.
He previously was banned from TikTok, YouTube and Facebook for hate
speech and his misogynistic comments, including that women should
bear responsibility for getting sexually assaulted.
The Tates, who are dual U.S.-British citizens, were arrested in late
2022 and formally indicted last year on charges they participated in
a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were
sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They
deny the allegations.
The Tates’ departure came after Romanian Foreign Minister Emil
Hurezeanu said this month that a Trump administration official
expressed interest in the brothers’ case at the recent Munich
Security Conference.
Just weeks ago, Andrew Tate posted on X: “The Tates will be free,
Trump is the president. The good old days are back. And they will be
better than ever. Hold on.”
The DeSantis' office didn't immediately reply to an email seeking
comment about Monday's podcast with Tate.
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