Heckler removed after angry outburst at Gov. DeSantis event in Bradenton
Deputies removed a man from Gov. Ron DeSantis’s press conference in Bradenton on Thursday after he launched into a profane outburst.
The man interrupted DeSantis as he spoke at the Manatee Performing Arts Center about the death of wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. He accused the governor of “bowing down to” a pedophile, an apparent reference to the growing controversy around the federal government’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation
“I remember WrestleMania 3,” DeSantis said, before the heckler stood up and shouted about the Alligator Alcatraz federal detention facility in the Everglades, demanding, “Is that your f------ legacy?”
“You bow down to a f------ pedophile,” the man shouted. “You’re a f------ pedophile. All of you are f------ Nazis. ”
Two deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office escorted the man out as he turned to DeSantis, flipped him off with both hands, and repeated, “F------ Nazis.”
Video from the press conference shows that DeSantis remained calm during the outburst, pointing at the man and repeatedly telling him to “get out of here” before resuming his speech about Hulk Hogan’s impact on professional wrestling.
Profane outburst at Bradenton DeSantis event
Manatee County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Melissa Conway said deputies assigned to the governor’s security detail escorted the man out of the press conference, then contacted the Bradenton Police Department to follow up because the event took place within city limits.
Meredith Censullo, a spokesperson for Bradenton police, said officers issued a trespass warning at the deputies’ request. Neither agency reported making an arrest.
The outburst came amid heightened political tension over recent developments in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, which has fueled renewed conspiracy theories and accusations online.
DeSantis was in Bradenton to announce that Manatee County would be the latest target in a state-led audit of local governments. He appeared alongside newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia to criticize what they called wasteful spending.
