As Trump urges GOP to retreat from anti-vax rhetoric, DeSantis doubles down on exemption bill amid rising measles cases

President Donald Trump is urging Republicans nationwide to move away from anti-vaccine messaging ahead of the Midterms. Still, in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking the opposite approach by advancing a high-profile vaccine exemption bill even as the state reports one of the nation’s highest measles case counts.

Nationally, the political landscape is shifting.

Trump’s advisers have warned that attacks on childhood vaccines are “unpopular,” and POLITICO reports that the White House recently urged the Food and Drug Administration to revisit a decision on a flu vaccine that was “shot down” by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s team. Surveys from Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio indicate that voters broadly oppose efforts to reduce the childhood vaccine schedule. Kennedy’s own advisory panel on immunizations, which had been working to justify cutting back childhood vaccines, postponed its February meeting.

At the same time, figures in the Trump administration, such as Dr. Mehmet Oz, are responding to measles spikes across the country, including in Florida.

“Take the vaccine, please,” Oz urged on CNN as cases continue to rise.

Data shows that vaccines remain broadly popular with voters across parties.

A recent Florida poll from McLaughlin & Associates found that 79% of Florida voters support the state’s long-standing school-entry vaccine requirements, including the following majorities:

— 71% of Republicans

— 84% of NPAs

— 83% of moderates

— 71% of conservatives

— 70% of Trump voters

— 73% of evangelicals

National polling from Fabrizio shows similar results: 8 in 10 MAHA voters and 86% of voters overall agree that vaccines save lives, and more than three in four say vaccines remain the best defense against infectious disease. If a Republican candidate supports eliminating long-standing childhood vaccine recommendations, Fabrizio found the ballot margin shifts a net 12 points toward Democrats.

But in Florida, DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis continue to champion what they describe as “medical freedom” policies, including broad expansions of non-medical vaccine exemptions. Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo has also remained a vocal critic of childhood vaccine requirements, even as the Florida Department of Health advances rules to repeal several immunizations currently required for public school attendance.

This push comes as the state faces one of the country’s largest measles surges. According to the CDC, Florida now ranks third in the nation for measles cases, surpassing the state’s total case count from the previous year.

Despite this, the DeSantis administration has publicly leaned into its position. Casey DeSantis and Ladapo have headlined events on vaccines and parental choice, and the Governor has urged members, including politically vulnerable Republicans, to advance a bill to scale back long-standing school-entry vaccine safeguards. Public health experts warn that SB 1756 could weaken protections for medically vulnerable students and increase the risk of preventable outbreaks, while Republican pollsters have highlighted its political risks. McLaughlin found that two-thirds of voters (66%) say they would be less likely to support a legislator who votes to eliminate school-entry vaccine requirements.

The debate in Florida now stands in stark contrast to the GOP’s national pivot. While Trump’s political operation signals concern that anti-vaccine positions could hurt Republicans among moderates, independents, and key right-leaning constituencies, Florida’s leadership continues to pursue a high-profile battle over exemptions, mandates, and public health policy, even as the state confronts rising measles cases and strong voter support for maintaining current vaccine standards.