MIAMI – Social media influencer brothers — and fervent supporters of President Donald Trump — Andrew and Tristan Tate appear to have left Florida after getting the cold shoulder from Gov. Ron DeSantis and becoming subjects of a state criminal investigation.
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The two landed in Fort Lauderdale last Thursday after Romania lifted travel restrictions imposed on the pair in an ongoing human trafficking case.
After the Tates landed in Fort Lauderdale, Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters that the brothers weren’t welcome in Florida and that he would have Attorney General James Uthmeier, his former chief of staff, examine whether the state may have any jurisdiction over their alleged crimes.
Uthmeier announced on social media Tuesday that he directed his office to work with law enforcement to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the Tate brothers.
“Based on a thorough review of the evidence, I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas in the now-active criminal investigation into the Tate brothers,” Uthmeier said.
Andrew Tate posted on social media platform X Wednesday, “Its a strange feeling to be so adored that when you go on a two week holiday to Miami the entire world talks about it.”
“Its wild,” he posted. “Im going back to Romania in a few days anyway.”
Then, on Thursday, Andrew Tate posted, “Thank you Florida, you were very welcoming. See you in a few years <3.”
Thank you Florida, you were very welcoming.
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) March 6, 2025
See you in a few years <3
Another post gave a hint at where the two might have headed in the meantime.
“Viva Las Vegas baby!” Tristan Tate posted Thursday night.
The brothers also posted and reposted messages critical of DeSantis. Andrew Tate wrote Thursday evening, “Retweet if Ron and his AG should apologize to an innocent American citizen who was politically imprisoned abroad.”
Andrew Tate appeared on the PBD Podcast Monday, hosted by Patrick Bet-David, and said DeSantis likely caved to media pressure last week when he told reporters that the Tates weren’t welcome in Florida, after they landed in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. DeSantis said Florida’s attorney general was examining whether the state may have any jurisdiction over the brothers’ alleged crimes, and if so, how to hold them accountable. In court documents, the Tates have said they are not and have never been Florida residents.
“I don’t know why Ron’s answer wasn’t, ‘He has an American passport. The judicial system in Romania, which I know absolutely nothing about, decided to let him fly, and he’s flown to his home country. As far as we’re concerned, he’s broken no laws,’” Tate said. “Instead, what he did was say: ‘We’re going to get our attorney general to try and find some laws he’s broken and wreck this man who’s done nothing inside of the United States ever.’”
In contrast, Tate described Trump as “such a boss” in his response to reporters about the Tate brothers. A reporter asked Trump if his administration had pressured the Romanian government to release the brothers, and Trump said, “I know nothing about that.”
Andrew Tate, 38, is a former professional kickboxer and self-described misogynist who has amassed more than 10 million followers on the social platform X. He and his brother Tristan Tate, 36, are vocal supporters of Trump.
Andrew reiterated on Monday that he has not been convicted of any crimes.
“Isn’t the whole point of democracy, innocent until proven guilty?” Andrew Tate said. “I’ve yet to even have a trial, let alone a conviction. I’ve never even been tried after three years. I’ve never been to trial.”
Andrew Tate is a hugely successful social media figure, attracting millions of followers, many of them young men and schoolchildren drawn in by the luxurious lifestyle the influencer projects online.
He previously was banned from TikTok, YouTube and Facebook for hate speech and his misogynistic comments, including that women should bear responsibility for getting sexually assaulted.
The Tates, who are dual U.S.-British citizens, were arrested in late 2022 and formally indicted last year on charges that they participated in a criminal ring that lured women to Romania, where they were sexually exploited. Andrew Tate was also charged with rape. They deny the allegations.
The Tates’ departure came after Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu said this month that a Trump administration official expressed interest in the brothers’ case at the recent Munich Security Conference.
Just weeks ago, Andrew Tate posted on X: “The Tates will be free, Trump is the president. The good old days are back. And they will be better than ever. Hold on.”
DeSantis’ office didn’t immediately reply to an email to the Associated Press seeking comment about Monday’s podcast with Tate.