A.G. Gancarski
Donald Trump Jr. is joining a chorus of critics of Santa Ono, the man who likely will be the next President of the University of Florida.
“WTF! Have the decision makers at UF lost their minds!??? This woke psycho might be a perfect fit for a Communist school in California, but how is he even being considered for this role in Florida? Every single member of the Florida Board of Governors should vote against him!!!” Trump Jr. posted on X.
Trump quote-tweeted a Christopher Rufo video where Ono talked about “two-spirit” people and “respecting people’s gender identities and affirming their gender expression” in a “respectful environment.” Rufo, a New College of Florida Trustee, posited that ideology was a threat to Florida remaining the place “where woke goes to die.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has used variants of “where woke goes to die” as a catchphrase for years, has been uncharacteristically mute amid the Ono opposition from the cultural right.
Part of the reason could be that a key political supporter backs the hire.
“Santa Ono is precisely the right person to be president of the University of Florida at this moment in its history,” said UF Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini.
“He is a remarkably accomplished scholar and a solidly proven academic leader, and his values align perfectly with ours here in the great state of Florida. Dr. Ono will ensure that merit and scholarship, not ideology, are the gold standards for success, and he will see to it that the University of Florida continues its ascent toward becoming America’s premier public university, bar none.”
We have sought comment from the Governor’s Office, and if provided, this piece will be updated.
This week, the UF Board of Trustees unanimously selected Ono to serve as the university’s next President. The State University System’s Board of Governors must still give final approval.
2 comments
PeterH
May 28, 2025 at 8:06 pm
“WOKE” “DEI” “TRANSGENDER THIS AND THAT”
The incomprehensible red state objection to any and all reference in America to diversity, equity, and inclusion goes against all common sense; and this Republican pursuit is a deliberate distraction from the continuation of the Republican agenda ….. their failed vision of our economy, government, education and national healthcare.
The fault is not DEI initiatives that are designed and meant to dismantle the division and hate perpetrated by right wing demigods….no the fault is attributable to the MAGA uneducated and the 80 million eligible voters who failed to participate in the 2024 election.
Michael K
May 29, 2025 at 8:34 am
Junior should move to Russia or Hungary, where stifled freedoms and thought police are a way of life.