Bob Iger Outsmarting Ron DeSantis Is a Master Class in Taking on Bullies

The Florida troika of cronies Governor Ron DeSantis, activist Nelson Peltz, and former Marvel chairman Ike Perlmutter have met their match in Disney’s CEO Bob Iger. In a shot heard around the nation, Iger last week labeled Florida’s ambitious GOP governor “anti-business and anti-Florida” after outmaneuvering the state amid a dispute that began after Disney took a stand against the state’s so-called Don’t Say Gay legislation a year ago, prompting DeSantis to retaliate. Iger’s latest move mirrored the blistering response of Florida-based cruise line CEOs to DeSantis two years ago when he threatened them for requiring standard vaccine passports for their crews and passengers—at the request of those passengers and crews.

Iger’s words this week were matched by a brilliant set of strategic actions which took the wind from DeSantis’ sails even more than did the cruise line captains. A top Trump campaign official commenting on Iger blowing away the governor’s bluster said that “Governor DeSantis just got out-negotiated by Mickey Mouse.”