Topline
Controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan left Romania—where they have been charged with rape and human trafficking—early Thursday and landed in Florida, after a travel ban on them was lifted by local authorities just days after reports emerged of President Donald Trump’s administration pressuring the Romanian government to lift its travel restrictions.
Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrive, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, … [+]
Key Facts
According to the BBC, the controversial “manosphere” influencer and his brother landed around 11:30 a.m. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after departed Romania on a private jet.
The Romanian federal law enforcement agency DIICOT (Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism) issued a statement saying the duo’s request to lift travel restrictions was granted.
The statement, however, noted that the criminal charges have not been dropped and the brothers remain under “judicial control”—which means they will be required to appear before Romanian courts when summoned.
A court also ruled that the Tates can have a number of their seized assets back, including “six luxury vehicles, land and properties, and company shares,” the Associated Press reported, and their bank accounts were unfrozen.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press conference Thursday “Florida is not a place where you’re welcome with that type of conduct” and the state’s attorney general is exploring how they can respond to the Tate brothers arriving.
After arriving in Florida, Andrew Tate told press gathered near the airport he and his brother are “misunderstood,” spoke against “media spin” and said “we live in a democratic society where it’s innocent until proven guilty.”
When asked by reporters if he had anything to do with their release, President Donald Trump—whose administration had reportedly asked Romanian authorities to allow the brothers to leave—said, “I know nothing about that… I just know nothing about it, we’ll check it out.”
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Chief Critic
Joseph McBride, a lawyer for the Tate brothers, said on X after DeSantis’ comments that the governor “disgraced himself by stating that” the Tates aren’t welcome in Florida, noting they are American citizens and “plaintiffs and victims in a very public defamation lawsuit litigated in Palm Beach Court.”
When Is The Tate Brothers’ Next Hearing Scheduled?
Citing unnamed sources, Romanian news outlet Antena3 CNN reported that the pair are expected return to Bucharest in late March for a court hearing.
What Do We Know About Trump Reportedly Pressuring Romania?
A Romanian court had previously refused to lift travel restrictions placed on the Tate brothers, calling such a request “unfounded.” So it is unclear what prompted the latest decision by authorities to ease those restrictions and allow the brothers to leave for the U.S. The move, however, comes just days after the Financial Times reported that the Trump administration was pressuring Romanian authorities to do the same. The report, which cited unnamed sources, noted that the issue was first raised by U.S. officials on a call with their Romanian counterparts and brought up again by Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell at the Munich Security Conference earlier this month. In a post on X, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said the U.S. had not “made any requests” or “demands” regarding the “legal situation of well-known foreign influencers investigated by the Romanian authorities.” The country’s foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu confirmed having a discussion on the matter with Grenell, but told reporters that the conversation was “cordial” and he did not perceive it as an effort to pressure Romanian authorities.
What Has Andrew Tate Said About Trump?
Tate has been a vocal supporter of Trump and has praised him for “saving America along with the entire western world.” Earlier this month on Feb. 12, Tate posted on X, “The Tates will be free, Trump is the president. The good old days are back. And they will be better than ever. Hold on.” One day before that, when reports began that Trump had negotiated the return of an American prisoner from Russia, Tate said on X, “At this point if you hate Trump you should simply be expelled from the country.”
Key Background
The Tate brothers had been barred from leaving Romanian ever since they were arrested in late 2022 and charged with human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. After being detained for several months, they were initially placed under house arrest in March 2023, but were later released under the condition they can’t leave Romania. In December that year, authorities seized assets worth $3.9 million from the brothers and their associates, including 15 luxury cars and cash. The brothers, who are dual U.S. and British citizens, have denied all charges against them. In August last year, Romanian authorities conducted a major raid on Tate’s properties as part of an investigation into another set of allegations of human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements, forming an organized crime group and money laundering.
Tangent
It is unclear how the decision to allow the Tates’ to leave Romania affects their case in the U.K. British authorities issued an arrest warrant against him in March last year on allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015. At the time, Romanian authorities had agreed to extradite the brothers to the U.K. after their trial was completed.
Further Reading
Here’s Why Trump May View Andrew Tate As An Ally—As He Reportedly Pressures Romania To Lift His Travel Restrictions (Forbes)
Read the full article here