Florida's 'vile' new 'Don't Tread on Me' license plate 'stirs controversy,' media says

Hey, we have a new “controversy” stirring in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced the availability of Gadsden flag license plates, proceeds from which will go to help Florida veterans in need. WFLA News seems to be on top of it:

Florida’s vile new ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ license plate stirs controversy. DeSantis has claimed on Twitter that the plate is intended to send a clear message to out-of-state cars, likely refers to tourists from blue states like New York and California https://t.co/VpILlMbVD5

— Lesley Abravanel 🪩 (@lesleyabravanel) August 3, 2022

WFLA’s source for the controversy is two tweets in response to DeSantis:

DeSantis has repeatedly painted Florida as a safe haven for freedom and minimal government intervention — a message originally conveyed in the flag’s design.

But not everyone agreed with the governor’s promotional tweet.

One user said, “Stop calling us the free state of Florida, if that were true I’d be able to do my job as a teacher and create a safe space for all kids,” referring to the governor’s Parental Rights in Education law.

Another user said, “what’s next the Confederate Flag? Plenty of other symbols can be used to benefit Veterans.”

That’s the controversy stirring.

The latest fake news hysteria is about the new Gadsden Flag license plate @GovRonDeSantis announced to help Florida veterans in need. Media is smearing this as a "racist"/"domestic terrorist" symbol, which is absurd!

See details & order online here: https://t.co/y819qcDllj pic.twitter.com/kQoSrBZo4Z

— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) August 3, 2022

Apparently the FBI says the Gadsden flag is now extremist sooooo.

— alexandriabrown (@alexthechick) August 3, 2022

Virginia has exactly the same license plate – and had it under the Democrats. This guy doesn't know what he's talking about. So "Don't Tread on Me" is a threat to democracy in Florida, but it wasn't – under Democrat Ralph Northam – in Virginia?

— Alberto Miguel Fernandez (@AlbertoMiguelF5) August 2, 2022

Uh oh. Wait until hear about the plates we've had in Virginia for about a decade now. pic.twitter.com/Hsj1mrtvPN

— Garren Shipley (@GarrenShipley) August 3, 2022

I love the Tennessee one https://t.co/s51R6PIxut

— Steven Sidmaier (@StevenSidmaier) August 3, 2022

Careful now, I hear the Betsy Ross flag is also icky because reasons.

— Just One Strawman (@JustOneStrawman) August 3, 2022

Yes, white supremacists and far-right extremists have appropriated the Gadsden flag, the Betsy Ross flag (which flew at Joe Biden’s inauguration), and even the American flag.

They went as far as placing the Gadsden flag on the fbi domestic terrorist list along with the Colonial Flag, crazy 🥴 pic.twitter.com/yYC7VGr9uz

— Mike Smitty 🇺🇸 (@gettinolda) August 3, 2022

It's so sad and pathetic that the media puts stuff like this out there and people believe it. Especially something that will benefit vets.

— 🇺🇸 Rob K 🇺🇸 (@RMK515) August 3, 2022

What could possibly be racist about this? Seriously.

— @ThoughtfulGOP (@thoughtfulgop) August 3, 2022

They would prefer a sickle and hammer option.

— Garrett (@Garrett00101922) August 3, 2022

I want one that says:

"Don't tread on me, beeee-otch"

— Charlie Richards 🇺🇸🇬🇧 Bigtime Influencer (@Chuck0saurus) August 3, 2022

Wouldn't it be funny if the hysteria ends up boosting the sale of the #Florida license plate that benefits #Veterans

It would be a lose lose for the losers.🤭😂

— Jules 🐊 (@JulieMilligan7) August 3, 2022

Mass formation psychosis

— Jasmine Dunnigan (@Jasminedunniga2) August 3, 2022

Triggering the media? Guess I better buy one.

— Ace Bragg (@Ace_Bragg) August 3, 2022

Related:

Journalism! Yahoo fans the flames of nonexistent outrage over Chris Pratt's Gadsden Flag t-shirt https://t.co/t2FAFNSy3j

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) July 16, 2019