Political speech, timestamped and in context

Ron DeSantis: “We created a dedicated gopher tortoise habitat to be able to go.”

Featuring: Ron DeSantis, Republican | Governor of Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Holds Press Briefing To Celebrate Completion Of New I-95 Interchange

Published October 5, 2026

And this is very important because we do a really good job about this. A lot of times it doesn't get any attention, but We created a dedicated gopher tortoise habitat to be able to go. The area will serve as the only relocation site of its kind in southeast Florida. Florida. Showing that it's possible to do the projects that we need done while also buttressing environmental stewardship. (17:20–17:27)

STATEMENT

Asserts that a dedicated gopher tortoise habitat was created as part of the project.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

See the main statements from Ron DeSantis in this video

“If our state was our own country, we'd have one of the top 15 economies in the entire world.”
Asserts that Florida's economy would rank among the top 15 in the world if it were a country.01:16-01:22
“Take all of Florida's taxpayer supported debt, we've retired almost 54% of it just in seven and a half years.”
Asserts that Florida has retired almost 54% of its taxpayer-supported debt in seven and a half years.01:54-02:04
“Our economy went from 1.1 trillion to 1.9 trillion.”
Asserts that Florida's economy has grown from $1.1 trillion to $1.9 trillion.08:54-09:03
“We've done the biggest investment in road construction and infrastructure in the history of the state of Florida.”
Asserts that Florida has made its largest-ever investment in road construction and infrastructure.10:18-10:26
“When I became governor, we were about a trillion dollars, a little bit more than that. And now we're over 1.9 trillion for our GDP.”
Asserts that Florida's GDP has grown from about $1 trillion to over $1.9 trillion since he became governor.01:03-01:11
“We've been ranked number one by multiple publications for the best state economy in the nation.”
Asserts that Florida has been ranked as having the best state economy by multiple publications.01:36-01:43
“We've also quadrupled, quadrupled our rainy day fund.”
Asserts that Florida's rainy day fund has quadrupled.02:11-02:15
“Some [projects] we're going to end up doing 15 years ahead of schedule because we launched the Moving Florida Forward initiative.”
Asserts that some infrastructure projects in Florida will be completed 15 years early due to the Moving Florida Forward initiative.02:35-11:22
“We've done, I think, close to 10 billion in tax relief from the state level.”
Asserts that Florida has provided close to $10 billion in tax relief at the state level.03:01-03:08
“It's true, it's a homestead exemption increase and it's going to end up eliminating two thirds of taxes for a lot of our homesteaders within the next couple years.”
Asserts that the homestead exemption increase will eliminate two-thirds of taxes for many homesteaders within a few years.04:21-04:31
“On commercial properties, you know, right now they can raise your valuation 10% every year, no questions asked. 10%. This amendment cuts that in half.”
Asserts that the amendment will reduce the annual valuation increase cap on commercial properties from 10% to 5%.04:35-04:47
“We've maxed out our rainy day fund.”
Asserts that Florida has fully funded its rainy day fund.07:07-07:10
“We've reduced our budget in Florida four years in a row at the state level.”
Asserts that Florida's state budget has been reduced annually for four consecutive years.08:02-08:06
“There's not been any tax increases, all tax reductions.”
Asserts that Florida has only reduced taxes without any increases.08:51-08:55
“The Moving Florida Forward initiative was funded out of the surplus billions and billions of dollars.”
Asserts that the Moving Florida Forward initiative was funded using surplus funds amounting to billions of dollars.11:22-11:28
“It's ended up leveraging up to over $7 billion front loaded to where FDOT can then do more projects.”
Asserts that the initiative has leveraged over $7 billion for the Florida Department of Transportation.11:28-11:36
“We were able to deliver [a project] six months ahead of schedule.”
Asserts that a specific infrastructure project in Sarasota County was completed six months early.12:58-13:01
“The new i95 interchange at Oslo Road is a $100 million project which is now going to be open one year ahead of schedule.”
Asserts that the i95 interchange project was completed a year ahead of schedule and cost $100 million.14:54-15:03
“This is the first new interchange built in this area in almost 50 years.”
Asserts that the Oslo Road interchange is the first new interchange in the area in nearly 50 years.15:16-15:22
“Drivers needing to get to the interstate from Oslo Road can now expect to see their drive times cut in half.”
Asserts that the new interchange will reduce drive times by 50% for drivers accessing the interstate from Oslo Road.15:38-15:46
“The number of daily vehicles on the corridor is expected to grow significantly between now and 2045.”
Asserts that there will be significant growth in daily vehicle traffic on the corridor by 2045.15:50-16:06
“The emergency response time will be reduced by up to 56% [with the new interchange].”
Asserts that the new interchange will reduce emergency response times by up to 56%.16:49-16:54
“This new interstate connection will help goods move more efficiently throughout this region.”
Asserts that the new interchange will improve the efficiency of goods movement in the region.17:05-17:10
“FDOT has acquired right of way near the interchange.”
Asserts that the Florida Department of Transportation has acquired land near the interchange.17:11-17:15