Andrew Tate and Brother Face Florida Investigation—As Gov. DeSantis Declares Them ‘Not Welcome’
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made it clear that controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristanare “not welcome” in the state after arriving in the U.S. following Romania’s decision to lift their travel restrictions.
DeSantis: ‘Florida Is Not a Place for That Conduct’
Speaking at a press conference, DeSantis responded to a reporter’s question about the Tate brothers, saying:
“Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct.”
Meanwhile, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a preliminary inquiry into the brothers.
“Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women. If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable,” Uthmeier wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
Tate Brothers Arrive in Florida After Romania Lifts Travel Ban
Andrew, 38, and Tristan, 36, departed Romania on Wednesday, where they had been awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and forming a criminal gang to exploit women sexually. Both have denied all charges.
Their private jet landed in Fort Lauderdale around noon, according to their spokesperson Mateea Petrescu, who spoke with the Associated Press.
Florida’s Attorney General Investigating Legal Options
DeSantis emphasized that Florida’s Attorney General is exploring legal avenues regarding the Tate brothers.
“Our Attorney General, James Uthmeier, is looking into what state hooks and jurisdictions we have to deal with this,” he told reporters.
It remains unclear why Romanian authorities lifted the Tate brothers’ travel restrictions. Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, confirmed that prosecutors approved a “request to modify the obligation preventing the defendants from leaving Romania.”
Romania Denies U.S. Pressure Over Tate Brothers’ Release
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu refuted claims that the Trump administration pressured his country to allow the Tate brothers to travel.
“The United States of America has made no request to Romania regarding the legal status of certain well-known foreign influencers under investigation by Romanian authorities,” Ciolacu wrote on X.
His statement followed a meeting with Special Presidential Envoy Richard Grenell.
Trump: ‘I Know Nothing About That’
Former President Donald Trump denied involvement in the Tate brothers’ return to the U.S. when asked about it Thursday.
“I know nothing about that. We’ll check it out. We’ll let you know,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Tate Brothers’ Legal Troubles Continue in the U.S. and UK
Andrew and Tristan—dual U.S.-British citizens—were arrested in late 2022 and formally indicted in 2023 for their alleged role in a criminal sex ring in Romania.
Additionally, four women in the UK have accused Andrew Tate of rape and coercive control, filing a civil caseagainst him in Britain.
“We are in disbelief and feel re-traumatized by the news that the Romanian authorities have given in to pressure from the Trump administration to allow Andrew Tate to travel around Europe and to the US,” the women said in a joint statement.
Romanian Court Blocks Trial, But Case Remains Open
In December, a Romanian court ruled that the case against the Tate brothers couldn’t proceed to trial due to legal and procedural irregularities by prosecutors. However, the case remains open, and authorities are conducting another ongoing investigation.
Andrew Tate’s Online Influence and Controversy
A former kickboxing champion and reality TV star, Andrew Tate has built a massive online following with controversial statements widely viewed as misogynistic and racist.
He also runs an online academy, claiming to teach young men how to get rich and attract women.
Both Andrew and Tristan support Donald Trump, while White House senior adviser Elon Musk has recently voiced support for the pair on X.
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