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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie lashed out at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday, arguing he was not handling his conflict with Disney like a "conservative."
Christie made the comments during an interview with Semafor, saying DeSantis was using the government to bully businesses like Disney. DeSantis' conflict with Disney stretches back more than a year, when the company sought to oppose the governor's education reform bill.
"I'm a conservative, and I believe the job of government is, in the main, to stay out of the business of business," Christie said. "I don't think Ron DeSantis is a conservative, based on his actions toward Disney.
"Where are we headed here now, that if you express disagreement in this country the government is allowed to punish you?" he continued. "To me, that's what I always thought liberals did, and now here we are participating in this with a Republican governor."
WAR OVER THE CORPORATE KINGDOM: DESANTIS' NEW BOARD SPARS FOR CONTROL WITH DISNEY
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie argued that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is "not a conservative" due to his ongoing war with Disney. (Photo by WADE VANDERVORT/AFP via Getty Images)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has feuded with Disney for more than a year, and he has threatened to remove some of the company's priviledges in Florida. (Photo by CHENEY ORR/AFP via Getty Images)
DISNEY'S REEDY CREEK IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO GET NEW NAME, GOVERNOR-APPOINTED BOARD
DeSantis is currently in a battle over the development rights for the area surrounding Disney World, known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Disney was able to block DeSantis's efforts to take over control of the district by signing a development deal earlier this year, something the governor has vowed to undo.
Nevertheless, Christie argued DeSantis had essentially been outmaneuvered.
"That's not the guy I want sitting across from President Xi and negotiating our next agreement with China, or sitting across from Putin and trying to resolve what's happening in Ukraine, if you can't see around a corner that Bob Iger created for you," Christie said. "I don't think that's very imposing."
DeSantis's office defended the handling of the situation, telling Fox News Digital that "Disney had extraordinary special privileges and an unfair special advantage" in Florida, in comparison to other companies.
The area around Disney World is the subject of a major legal battle between Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Disney Corporation. (Getty Images for Disney Dreamers Academy)
"That is not appropriate, especially in light of their threats to work to overturn duly enacted legislation in the state of Florida," DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin said in a statement.
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"After the Florida legislature then acted to even the playing field, Disney attempted to make a legally deficient, 11th hour agreement to preserve their special privileges," Griffin continued. "That’s an attempt to subvert the will of the people of Florida, and Governor DeSantis will not stand for that. Good and limited government (and, indeed, principled conservatism) reduces special privilege, encourages an even playing field for businesses, and upholds the will of the people. Governor DeSantis is the champion of the people of Florida."
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