The nearly two dozen Floridians who spoke to NBC News in the Villages, the world's largest retirement community that went for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, and Lake County, a conservative stronghold about 40 miles away from Walt Disney World, expressed widespread support for DeSantis’ battle.
Rosemary Sikucinski said she and her husband decided not to renew their annual passes to Disney World after Chapek's comments. “The Republican base wants to see a fighter,” said Matt Salmon, a former Arizona congressman and state party chair. Salmon said he believes Republicans don’t view the Disney brand the same way it once did. “The Republican base lovingly says Disney is the epitome of the woke agenda.”