Social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have landed in Florida after leaving Romania where they face charges of rape and human trafficking.
The self-proclaimed misogynist has had properties, vehicles, bank accounts and company shares returned to him by Romanian authorities, his spokesperson said.
Tate, alongside his brother Tristan, flew to Florida in the US on Thursday from Bucharest after a travel ban imposed on the pair during a human trafficking investigation was lifted.
However, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said the brothers are not welcome in the state as their plane landed.
“No, Florida is not a place where you're welcome with that type of conduct,” he said at a press conference.
He added: “Our Attorney General, James Uthmeier, is looking into what state hooks and jurisdictions we have to deal with this.”
DeSantis said he was not aware they were landing in the state and that he found out through the media.
The social media figure and his brother were first arrested in Romania three years ago, where they are set to go on trial for allegations of rape, trafficking minors and money laundering. They have denied all the claims.
They also deny allegations of rape and human trafficking in the UK, for which they are wanted by the police. Their extradition to the UK is set to be organised once their case in Romania finishes.
The Trump administration reportedly pressed the Romanian government to lift travel restrictions on the brothers earlier this month. During the US election, the Tates supported Donald Trump and have seen widespread support on right-wing social media.
The brothers now also faces a civil case in America, after a suit was filed in a Florida court on Monday. An American woman accused the pair of coercing her to Romania under false pretences, attempting to “recruit her” into a sex work and then “bullying and harassing” her in a defamation suit.
Romania’s anti-organised crime agency, DIICOT, said prosecutors had approved a “request to modify the obligation preventing the defendants from leaving Romania”.
DIICOT added: “These include the requirement to appear before judicial authorities whenever summoned.
“The defendants have been warned that deliberately violating these obligations may result in judicial control being replaced with a stricter deprivation of liberty measure.”
The brothers had been banned from leaving Romania since December 2023, despite having dual UK-US nationality.
Andrew Tate’’s accusers, who allege they were victims of rape and coercive control and have brought a civil claim against him in the UK, have said the news has left them “retraumatised”.
In a joint statement, the four women said: “We are in disbelief and feel retraumatised by the news that the Romanian authorities have given into pressure from the Trump administration to allow Andrew Tate to travel around Europe and to the US.
“We can only hope that the British authorities finally take action, do something about this terrifying unfolding situation and ensure he faces justice in the UK.”
Andrew Tate has amassed millions of followers over the past decade across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.
Although he was banned from social media in August 2022, he was reinstated on Twitter when Elon Musk took over and rebranded it as X, where he now has 10.7 million followers.
The Tate brothers first moved to Romania in 2017, where they have lived in a large compound in Bucharest with armed guards.
He said the prospect of avoiding rape charges more easily was “probably 40 per cent of the reason” for moving to Central Europe.
Tate said: “I’m not a f****** rapist, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want. I like being free.
“If you’re a man living in England or Germany or America or any of the Western world right now you’ve decided to live in a country where any woman … at any point in the future can destroy your life.”