Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is receiving plenty of praise online after moving forward with a new state framework that allows officials to designate and take action against terrorist organizations. Florida began implementing the powers established under the HB in July, with DeSantis announcing the state’s intent to designate CAIR, the Muslim Brotherhood, Antifa, and more than 90 federally designated terrorist organizations under the law.
A video of DeSantis speaking on the topic was posted to the social media platform X, where users shared their opinions in the comments below. Some users criticized the policy and its broader political framing, while others hope that other states follow Florida’s example.
Television presenter Sean Hannity posted the clip of DeSantis addressing the conversation, in which he can be heard saying, “I signed a bill a couple of months ago banning the use of Sharia Law in Florida and providing the state government the ability to designate certain groups as foreign terrorist organizations.” He then goes on to name several organizations that he has deemed to be aligned with terrorism.
Florida House Bill 1471, also known as Systems of Law and Terrorist Organizations, was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 6, 2026, officially taking effect on July 1.
The consequences extend beyond simply placing an organization on a state list. Once Florida’s governor and Cabinet confirm a designation, state and local governments cannot provide the organization with taxpayer funding, contracts, or other public support; knowingly providing material support can carry criminal penalties.
For context, Sharia Law is Islam’s legal and moral system that governs personal worship, ethics, family life, business contracts, and more, and is derived from the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.
The latest policy builds upon an extensive order DeSantis issued in December, which designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations for purposes of state executive action. That order instructed state agencies to use lawful measures against unlawful activities by the designated organizations and sought to restrict state benefits such as contracts and funding where legally permitted.
Comments and Reactions to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ Terrorism Policy
Many of the responses were overwhelmingly supportive of DeSantis, with some wanting to see Florida’s approach replicated in other states. One user wrote, “Florida government is awesome wish AZ had it.”
Similarly, another user wrote, “A GREAT DECISION NOW THE COMMON SENSE FOR THE OTHER 49 STATES. These foreign terrorist organizations condone murder of every single AMERICAN INCLUDING [EXPLETIVE] ASSAULT TORCHER KIDNAPPING. WHY WOULD’NT we declare them terrorist organizations KNOW IT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING“
Others felt that this was a decision that only a leader could make, with a different user writing, “Keeps talking and ACTING like a national leader. I think that man belongs in a Federal role. Why isn’t every Republican governor not following his example… Why aren’t our Senate leaders voicing the same concerns and offering similar laws? TDS has afflicted both parties.”
Not everyone was impressed, however, with one commenter declaring, “The @FloridaGOP has ruined #Florida!” Some of the most extreme responses went well beyond what the law itself establishes, showing how quickly the debate over DeSantis’ policy has expanded beyond the actual provisions of HB 1471.
