Social media influencer and self-described misogynist Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan landed in Florida on Thursday after leaving Romania where they face trial on charges of rape and human trafficking.
The pair flew into Fort Lauderdale and straight into a political storm after state governor Ron DeSantis said they were not welcome.
Speaking to reporters outside Fort Lauderdale airport, Andrew Tate said: “We live in a democratic society where it’s innocent until proven guilty and I think my brother and I are largely misunderstood. We’ve yet to be convicted of any crime in our lives, ever, we have no criminal record anywhere on the planet, ever.
Our case was dismissed on the 19th of December in Romania under the Biden administration, and our prosecutor recently decided, because we have no active indictment in court, to let us go and return. This is a democratic society.”
He did not comment on why they had gone to Florida, or if Donald Trump had helped get their travel ban lifted.
Mr Trump was asked about the brothers during his Oval Office meeting with Sir Keir Starmer. The prime minister said he would raise the issue with the US president, who himself said he knew nothing of the case.
Mr Trump said: “I know nothing about that. I don’t know, you’re saying he’s on a plane right now? I just know nothing about it. We’ll check it out. We’ll let you know.”
The brothers were initially arrested in December 2022 and are under criminal investigation in Romania on accusations of forming an organised criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering. They have denied all wrongdoing.
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 Mr Trump and have seen widespread support on right-wing social media.
However, Mr DeSantis said: “No, Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct,” he said at a press conference. “Our attorney general, James Uthmeier, is looking into what state hooks and jurisdictions we have to deal with this.”
Romania’s anti-organised crime agency, DIICOT, said prosecutors had approved a “request to modify the obligation preventing the defendants from leaving Romania”.
The agency 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.”
