Casey Smith

External Affairs for @GovRonDeSantis | Former Comms @fdlepio | Go Noles | DTWD 🐆 | Personal Account

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithFL]

Stay tuned for August 21st! 👀

[FDLE @fdlepio]

Watch the trailer for FDLE's new limited series: "THE WAR ON MIAMI"

This four-part miniseries traces the war on drugs from the coke-fueled chaos of 1980s Miami to the criminal networks we fight today—and the agents who have fought to take it back.

Watch the trailer now. The battle begins soon...

[Secretary Linda McMahon @EDSecMcMahon]

This is the way.

Florida is setting a bold example in answering our call to action — committing to commonsense reforms that will usher in a new era of academic excellence and American leadership.

[Cody Farrill @C_Farrill]

Great News…@America250FL’s Pavilion at the @Freedom250 Great American State Fair was named “Best in Show” amongst all 56 states+territories!

What a great example of an all hands on deck approach to showcase the place we know and love…

The FLA-USA!

🍊🌴🐟🐊⛳️🇺🇸🐚☀️🐂🍓🎡🚀⛵️

[Jason Weida @JasonWeidaFL]

Florida has zero tolerance for this type of criminal behavior. Great work by @AGJamesUthmeier and @MyFLFamilies protecting those who cannot protect themselves.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget marks the fourth straight year Florida has reduced its budget. We have large reserves and a full rainy day fund—more than triple the size from when I took office. We’ve paid down historic debt instead of passing the burden to future generations.

The State of Florida has built a strong fiscal foundation because we manage taxpayers’ money responsibly. Florida’s per capita spending is one of the lowest in the nation. We have the fewest state employees per capita in the nation.

We’ve achieved high levels of fiscal responsibility while also reducing taxes and making historic investment in infrastructure, education and Everglades restoration. In short, it can be done!

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

We have made historic investments in education—and Florida now leads the country in many measures of student success. Florida stayed focused on student achievement and enacted bold reforms to ensure all students can access high-quality education.

One of our reforms, established in 2023, is the statewide progress monitoring system. Unlike end-of-year high-stakes testing, progress monitoring provides teachers, students, and parents with actionable data at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year to drive continuous academic improvement.

This innovative approach is delivering results. Today in Polk County, I was proud to announce that our students broke records at the end of this latest school year. Compared to 2023, when we first implemented progress monitoring, the number of Florida students at or above grade level has grown by 12 percentage points in English and 9 percentage points in math.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

12 — Diners, Drive-ins & DeSantis

Not quite a dive, but Joe’s Stone Crab is a Florida icon.

Great to host @shaunvlog_ and the Tartan Army from Scotland!

Joe’s Stone Crab, Miami Beach, FL

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Immigration enforcement has been a state priority since I’ve been governor.

We stood up Alligator Alcatraz to help address the failures of the Biden administration on immigration enforcement and bolster the Trump administration’s efforts to resume interior enforcement and removal operations.

Florida led the way in increasing much-needed detention capacity and working with our federal partners to streamline deportations, removing thousands of the most dangerous criminal aliens from our country.

Our detention operations support has led to nearly 30,000 additional deportations and Florida accounts for more than 40% of all state/local immigration arrests nationwide.

Alligator Alcatraz has fulfilled this mission. Detainees who are still awaiting deportation have been transferred to other federal facilities, and demobilization efforts are underway.

The Biden border crisis caused an emergency. When it comes to emergency management, Florida is second to none. The success of Alligator Alcatraz demonstrated our state’s leadership in launching critical infrastructure, surging resources, and managing complex operations.

Along with our partners in the Trump Administration, we will continue the mission to make our communities safer by deporting illegal aliens and ensuring that our nation’s immigration laws are enforced.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

We stand for law and order. Today in Winter Haven, I was proud to sign five bills to enhance public safety and support law enforcement: 

✔️ SB 432: Establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine, a dangerous drug commonly known as “tranq”, and enacts tougher penalties for criminals who market addictive substances to appeal to youth.

✔️ SB 1332: Strengthens Florida’s Career Offender Registration Act and gives law enforcement better tools to monitor serious repeat offenders.

✔️ HB 429: Modernizes Florida’s criminal gang statutes by expanding the criteria that can be used to establish gang involvement.

✔️ SB 156, the Officer Jason Raynor Act, honors a Daytona Beach police officer who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. This law strengthens protections for law enforcement officers and ensures that those who attack, injure, or kill officers face the toughest penalties available.

✔️ SB 436: Ensures that repeat violent offenders face more serious consequences. If a person has been convicted for resisting an officer with violence, a second battery offense can be elevated to a felony.

These bills reinforce our commitment to making Florida the most law enforcement-friendly state in the union—and the worst state in which to commit crimes.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Today in West Palm Beach, I announced major actions to strengthen the integrity of Florida’s Medicaid program and to crack down on fraud:

✔️ @AHCA_FL is partnering with SentiLink, a leading identity fraud detection company that specializes in uncovering complex schemes to defraud taxpayers. This technology will help screen providers and identify suspicious activity even before bad actors are able to exploit the Medicaid program.

✔️ AHCA has imposed enrollment moratoriums on certain provider categories that are high-risk for fraud, including durable medical equipment suppliers and adult day cares. Florida is implementing stronger screening measures and ensuring proper oversight—not using your tax dollars to pay fraudulent claims, then investigate years later.

✔️ AHCA is launching a comprehensive statewide revalidation effort for all active Florida Medicaid providers, requiring them to verify their credentials and identities.

Medicaid dollars should be spent on patient care, not fraud schemes.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Today in Brooksville, I awarded $3 million for workforce education through the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund to Pasco-Hernando State College. This award will fund the launch of a new airframe and powerplant aviation maintenance program, the expansion of pilot training opportunities, and the consolidation of drone maintenance instruction at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport.

Manufacturing, aviation, and aerospace are growing in Florida. With expanded training opportunities, more Floridians will be able to prepare for in-demand careers in these sectors—and companies will invest more in our state, creating good jobs and fueling Florida’s economic success story.

[Shaun 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸 @shaunvlog_]

I ate Stone Crabs for the first time.

Joe’s Stone Crab is an unbelievable place, with over a hundred years history and in a stunning location on Miami Beach. The crabs were absolutely delicious.

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Today in Bradenton, I signed Senate Bill 4-F, which makes it harder for local governments to raise property tax burdens on Florida homeowners. This bill also allows a clear explanation on the Legislature’s property tax ballot initiative so that voters can make an informed decision in November, when Floridians will have the chance to vote for property tax relief and a pathway to elimination.

I also signed HB 1329, the Local Government Financial Transparency and Accountability Act. Under this law, counties and cities will be required to put their financial information online in a format that Floridians can easily review. This legislation also requires local officials to conduct a budget-cutting exercise to reduce the tentative budget by 10 percent—without compromising essential public services—before final budget adoption.

Both bills are important steps forward in our mission to deliver a more affordable state for homesteaded Florida residents.

[Alex Lanfranconi @AlexLanfran]

Shaun is the man! Funny enough we never even stopped to consider his political leanings.

Grateful that he spent some time with us yesterday and taught us about Scottish culture and heritage.

Hopefully Scotland can pull off a miracle and advance — I know there are thousands of new Scotland fans in the U.S. thanks to his efforts and those of his fellow countrymen.

[Shaun 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇺🇸 @shaunvlog_]

I came to America to be curious, open-minded and also to be a good public ambassador for my country. When Governor Ron DeSantis asked me to go eat some local food and watch Scotland v Brazil in Miami, it was a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to do exactly that. I was extremely nervous, and found Ron and his team to be extremely personable and kind. Thank you Governor @RonDeSantis for speaking with me on a range of topics, teaching me about Florida, and showing me incredible American hospitality.

And this is absolutely not a political statement from me. I come here with an open heart and am extremely grateful to everyone who I have had the privilege of speaking to while on this trip.

[Ron DeSantis @RonDeSantis]

With @shaunvlog_ in Miami Beach before the match between Scotland and Brazil.

Diners, Drive-ins and DeSantis episode incoming…

Glad to see the @TartanArmyGroup enjoying the Free State of Florida!

[Ron DeSantis @RonDeSantis]

A court has ruled that federal law enforcement can’t enforce immigration laws in courthouses.

What?

This is yet another example of partisan judges throwing sand in the gears of immigration enforcement.

The people want —indeed, voted for—the law to be enforced!

[Jason Weida @JasonWeidaFL]

Fraudsters beware!

Under the leadership of @GovRonDeSantis, Florida will not tolerate fraud in Medicaid or any other program. Those services are meant for vulnerable populations; not to line pockets. Perpetrators will be terminated from the program or referred for criminal prosecution.

Keep up the good work @AHCA_FL.

[Jason Weida @JasonWeidaFL]

👇👇👇 Florida leads the way.

@GovRonDeSantis

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

Governor DeSantis Speaks at Danbury Institute’s “Revive This Nation” Conference in Orlando https://t.co/98lZTmRRkR

[Ron DeSantis @GovRonDeSantis]

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season just started, but Florida is dedicated to disaster preparedness all year round. We always plan for the worst that nature can throw at us, and we execute those plans to ensure effective response, recovery, and restoration. 

I encourage all Florida residents and visitors to have a household plan for hurricane season that considers the needs of children, seniors, and pets in their family. Disaster preparedness essentials—including many pet items—are now tax-free in Florida.

Make sure to follow @FLSERT and your local emergency management for important updates heading into this hurricane season!