{"id":327139,"date":"2026-07-02T11:12:25","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T11:12:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/327139\/"},"modified":"2026-07-02T11:12:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T11:12:25","slug":"desantis-latest-erection-a-new-abe-lincoln-statue-in-central-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/327139\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis\u2019 latest erection: A new Abe Lincoln statue in Central Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"780\" height=\"439\" data-attachment-id=\"422597\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/news\/orlando-area-news\/desantis-latest-erection-a-new-abe-lincoln-statue-in-central-florida\/attachment\/735075881_1748093583040243_1710585922117267168_n\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/735075881_1748093583040243_1710585922117267168_n.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,675\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"735075881_1748093583040243_1710585922117267168_n\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/735075881_1748093583040243_1710585922117267168_n.jpg?fit=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/735075881_1748093583040243_1710585922117267168_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-422597\"   fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>Credit: Gov. Ron DeSantis\/Facebook<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced a statue of President Abraham Lincoln in The Villages as part of Florida\u2019s ongoing effort to mark the nation\u2019s 250th\u00a0anniversary on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis acknowledged that the 16th president didn\u2019t have a \u201cdirect\u201d impact on Florida in terms of appearances, but \u201cwe felt that it was important because of kind of what he stood for,\u201d DeSantis said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lincoln led the U.S. through the American Civil War, where Florida was part of the Confederacy, and played a major role in the abolition of slavery.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s really an example of being able to persevere and overcome a lot of obstacles that are put in your way,\u201d DeSantis said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis has been highlighting Florida\u2019s approach to the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence through statues of Founding Fathers and other noted Americans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis previously brought statues of President George Washington to the state Capitol and Washington County, a statue of President Thomas Jefferson to Jefferson County, President James Monroe to the Florida Keys in Monroe County, Alexander Hamilton to Hamilton County, and a statue of Benjamin Franklin to Franklin County. Other statues unveiled as part of the American 250 effort include President Ronald Reagan at Florida International University, President Calvin Coolidge to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales and abolitionist Frederick Douglass in St. Augustine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSantis said the statue erections will continue throughout the year, with plans for President Andrew Jackson and Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon, who is credited with leading the first European expedition to Florida.<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/orlando\/NewsletterSignup\/Page\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Subscribe to Orlando Weekly newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Follow us:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/apple.news\/TvED6otrDR9OFO33_r61W_g\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Apple News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqLQgKIidDQklTRndnTWFoTUtFVzl5YkdGdVpHOTNaV1ZyYkhrdVkyOXRLQUFQAQ?hl=en-US&amp;gl=US&amp;ceid=US%3Aen\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsbreak.com\/@c\/1599445?s=01\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/OrlandoWeekly\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/orlandoweekly\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/orlandoweekly\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/orlandoweekly.bsky.social\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0| Or sign up for our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/feed\/?partner-feed=all\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">RSS Feed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Related Stories<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/news\/florida-news\/wasnt-my-proposal-desantis-distances-himself-from-property-tax-cut-effort-he-pushed-for\/\" rel=\"bookmark nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/shutterstock_2282922349.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\u2018Wasn\u2019t my proposal\u2019: DeSantis distances himself from property tax cut effort he pushed for\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\"   data-attachment-id=\"422435\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/news\/florida-news\/wasnt-my-proposal-desantis-distances-himself-from-property-tax-cut-effort-he-pushed-for\/attachment\/smyrnageorgiausa-march302023floridagovernorron\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_2282922349.jpg?fit=1200%2C1200&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Smyrna, Georgia USA - March 30, 2023: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis profile photographed while he autographs books following a political rally in Smyrna, Georgia&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1680220800&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright (c) 2023 William Hunton\/Shutterstock.  No use without permission.&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Smyrna,,Georgia,Usa,-,March,30,,2023:,Florida,Governor,Ron&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"desantis\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_2282922349.jpg?fit=780%2C780&amp;ssl=1\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/news\/florida-news\/desantis-signs-bill-to-name-florida-roads-after-charlie-kirk-and-trump\/\" rel=\"bookmark nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/shutterstock_2678172975.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"DeSantis signs bill to name Florida roads after Charlie Kirk and Trump\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\"   data-attachment-id=\"422259\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/news\/florida-news\/desantis-signs-bill-to-name-florida-roads-after-charlie-kirk-and-trump\/attachment\/awomanholdsasigninrallyforcharliekirk\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_2678172975.jpg?fit=1200%2C799&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1200,799\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Shutterstock&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;A woman holds a sign in rally for Charlie Kirk in Beverly Hills on Sept. 14, 2025. Kirk, CEO and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot and killed Wednesday in Utah.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1757808000&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;Copyright (c) 2025 Ringo Chiu\/Shutterstock.  No use without permission.&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;A,Woman,Holds,A,Sign,In,Rally,For,Charlie,Kirk&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"charlie kirk\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/shutterstock_2678172975.jpg?fit=780%2C519&amp;ssl=1\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tGov. Ron DeSantis vetoed three bills late Thursday, his first rejection of legislation passed this year, and signed 15 others\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/news\/florida-news\/desantis-hails-alligator-alcatraz-as-victory-while-confirming-its-shutdown\/\" rel=\"bookmark nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/HLrNAgdWoAILyr5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"DeSantis hails \u2018Alligator Alcatraz\u2019 as victory while confirming its shutdown\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\"   data-attachment-id=\"422253\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/news\/florida-news\/desantis-hails-alligator-alcatraz-as-victory-while-confirming-its-shutdown\/attachment\/hlrnagdwoailyr5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HLrNAgdWoAILyr5.jpg?fit=2048%2C1152&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1152\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"HLrNAgdWoAILyr5\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.orlandoweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/HLrNAgdWoAILyr5.jpg?fit=780%2C439&amp;ssl=1\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\t\tIt lasted just under a year.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Credit: Gov. Ron DeSantis\/Facebook Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced a statue of President Abraham Lincoln in The Villages as&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":327140,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[25131,135159,29,139,141,140,135160,412,3690],"class_list":["post-327139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-orlando","tag-abraham-lincoln","tag-florida-monuments","tag-florida-news","tag-orlando","tag-orlando-headlines","tag-orlando-news","tag-presidential-statue","tag-ron-desantis","tag-the-villages"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}