The approval of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on the 4th of July, 1776 represented the ultimate political gamble. The American revolutionaries were fighting against the world’s most powerful country, and the vast majority of colonists in America either opposed or were indifferent to independence. While the odds were slim, the consequences for failure were severe. All 56 men who later signed the Declaration faced an assured death by hanging were the Revolution to fail. And they had a lot to lose. The leaders of the Revolution were generally wealthy and influential in the colonies. But they had suffered what Jefferson called a “long train of abuses” over the previous decade, and believed that failure to take a stand would lead to the destruction of their liberty. So when they pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor, they meant it. The Declaration was the ultimate political line in the sand: rights are God-given, not government-granted; government is legitimate only upon the consent of the governed; and government’s purpose is to safeguard the natural rights of the people. What began as a conservative rebellion seeking the preservation of traditional English rights evolved into a political revolution that laid the foundation for the rise of the greatest republic in history — and that produced transformational consequences around the world. We as Americans in 2026 are inheritors of this legacy of liberty and the beneficiaries of the courage, wisdom and dedication of the Founding Fathers. We can acknowledge that our society and nation face a lot of problems. Whether there will be an America 500 celebration may very well depend on how this generation of Americans tackle these challenges. But there can be no doubt that we are fortunate to be citizens of this republic. And we have a small group of patriots, who took a risky stand 250 years ago, to thank for that. Happy America 250!

Last December, I signed an Executive Order to eliminate the influence of radical terrorist ideologies and the organizations that promote them in Florida. This year, I signed legislation to strengthen those protections and give Florida permanent statutory tools to combat terrorism while defending the Constitutional rights of our citizens.   Today, we are officially designating terrorist organizations under Florida law. In addition to CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, we are adding Antifa to the list—along with more than 90 Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including cartels.

As part of our initiative to celebrate 250 years of the American experiment, we have commissioned statues of our Founding Fathers and other great Americans of history throughout Florida.   Today, we unveiled a replica of the iconic Liberty Bell, permanently installed in Liberty County. The inscription is just as relevant today as it was in 1776: "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof.”

Governor DeSantis Announces Implementation of Florida Law to Combat Terrorist Organizations x.com/i/broadcasts/1oJMvvjPy…

With America’s 250th anniversary around the corner, Florida is celebrating our nation’s history and enduring ideals. We have already unveiled statues of the Founding Fathers in all the counties that bear their names, and today, I was proud to present a replica of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell right here in Liberty County.   The Liberty Bell in Bristol will serve as a lasting tribute to America’s founding principles as part of our state’s ongoing initiative to honor our nation’s semiquincentennial.

Governor DeSantis Unveils Replica of Liberty Bell in Liberty County x.com/i/broadcasts/1qxoNNroj…

The Illinois Railsplitter stands as one of America's greatest presidents.  While his life was cut short by an assassin's bullet, the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln has endured.

With America’s 250th anniversary just a few days away, I was proud to unveil a new statue of President Abraham Lincoln—the latest in our series honoring great Americans across Florida. His statue will stand here in The Villages as a symbol of dedication to the country and the sacrifice required to preserve this nation. President Lincoln was guided by the principles contained in the Declaration of Independence as he fought the Dred Scott decision and judicial supremacy, advocated for free labor, led the effort to abolish slavery, and worked to preserve the Union.

Governor DeSantis Unveils Statue of Abraham Lincoln in The Villages x.com/i/broadcasts/1pKdRROva…

Over the last seven and a half years, Florida has set the national standard for conservative governance, while breaking record after record in economic strength, education, and environmental stewardship. We’ve delivered billions in tax relief to families while making historic investments in the priorities that matter most to Floridians. The FY 2026-2027 Budget I signed today reflects the core priorities I laid out from the beginning. This budget protects taxpayers’ interests, cuts spending for the fourth year in a row, and makes meaningful investments to build on Florida’s successes in education, public safety, environmental conservation, infrastructure, cancer research, and more. I’m proud that Florida continues to serve as the prime example of fiscal responsibility and government that works for the people of our state.

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!

Governor DeSantis Signs Florida Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 x.com/i/broadcasts/1AKEmmykV…

Florida did not become the Education State by accident. We got here by setting high expectations, empowering parents, supporting teachers, and refusing to settle for the status quo. For the first time ever, more than 60 percent of Florida students are now performing on or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics. This success demonstrates that our education reforms, like progress monitoring, are delivering real results for our students.

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.

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

Governor DeSantis Highlights Success of Progress Monitoring in K-12 Education x.com/i/broadcasts/1qGvvvXnm…

During the Biden border crisis, Florida set the standard for states in protecting citizens from the harmful effects of illegal immigration. Florida has since become a model for states in helping the Trump Administration to apprehend, detain, and deport illegal aliens.   We launched Alligator Alcatraz shortly after President Trump took office, when our country was overloaded with illegal aliens due to the previous administration’s dereliction of duty.  President Trump swiftly delivered on his promise to secure the border. Now, after processing thousands of illegal immigrants for deportation—including many of the worst criminals—we have accomplished the mission that Alligator Alcatraz was designed for.   Florida is proud to serve as a force multiplier for the Trump Administration on illegal immigration enforcement. We will continue supporting apprehension, detention, and deportation operations alongside our federal partners.

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.