BRANDON, Fla. — Florida’s First Lady, Casey DeSantis, delivered her most vigorous defense of her Hope Florida initiative on Wednesday, strongly countering allegations of fund misuse, while remaining open to possibly running for governor in the future.

During a roundtable event in Brandon, showcasing the work of the Hope Florida program, which seeks to link struggling Floridians with local charities and churches, the First Lady described the recent criticisms as “slanderous” and “false.”

“It’s just really disheartening and very sad but not surprising to see these slanderous, false accusations hurled at Hope Florida,” Casey DeSantis said, referencing reporting that questioned a $10 million donation tied to a Medicaid settlement that was granted to groups later donating to causes championed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

The governor again denied any impropriety.

“What they did was appropriate and legally sound, and that’s been demonstrated very clearly,” Gov. DeSantis said. He argued the criticism is politically motivated and aimed at discrediting the First Lady’s program.

The funding was at the center of a now-halted legislative probe, where lawmakers accused the DeSantis administration of misusing taxpayer funds. 

“This is looking more and more like a conspiracy to use Medicaid money for campaign activity,” State Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola), who chaired the committee that was probing the program, said. 

Despite the scrutiny, both the governor and First Lady touted the program’s successes, claiming it has helped more than 30,000 Floridians transition off government assistance and saved taxpayers an estimated $100 million annually. 

The initiative works by using “Hope Navigators” to connect individuals with community-based resources such as churches and nonprofits, in an effort to get folks off government assistance. 

“It’s not just a program, it’s a movement,” Casey DeSantis said, adding that the model empowers people “to reclaim their purpose, to restore their dignity and to realize their full potential.”

The First Lady also addressed growing speculation that she may run for governor in 2026. While she stopped short of confirming a bid, she didn’t deny the possibility and strongly praised her term-limited husband. 

“I understand why, when I travel around the state, I meet with a lot of people, why they’re very concerned the GOAT [Greatest of All Time] will no longer be in office,” she said.

She added that whoever steps up to run should continue his model of leadership.

“I think it should be somebody in the mold of a DeSantis, who’s willing to get up there and fight,” she said. “It’s more than a year away from qualifying, and I think we need to be thinking about what people were elected to do now,” pointing out how state lawmakers are still far apart on a budget deal. 

Right now, Congressman Byron Donalds (R-Fort Myers) is the biggest name in the race for the 2026 GOP nomination.  Earlier this year, Donalds was endorsed by President Donald Trump.