The rainbow crosswalk outside the former Pulse nightclub in Orlando was removed by Florida transportation workers overnight, an action linked to state-level directives, though direct attribution to Ron DeSantis ordering the removal is not explicitly confirmed in the sources.
Mostly True
Ron DeSantis has ordered the rainbow crosswalk outside the former Pulse nightclub to be painted over.
Orlando officials condemn Florida's removal of rainbow crosswalk near Pulse nightclub shooting site - AP News
Source: apnews.com
At a glance
Verified August 21, 2025Key Evidence
Multiple reputable news outlets (Yahoo News, The Hill, AP News, Orlando Sentinel) confirm the overnight removal of the rainbow crosswalk outside Pulse nightclub by Florida transportation workers.
Orlando officials publicly denounced the removal as politically motivated and insensitive to LGBTQ victims and community.
No source explicitly states that Ron DeSantis personally ordered the painting over; rather, it is attributed to state-level policy enforcement.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
Multiple independent and reliable news sources report that the rainbow-colored crosswalk outside the Pulse nightclub memorial in Orlando was painted over overnight by Florida transportation workers. This crosswalk had been a symbol honoring the victims of the 2016 mass shooting and was widely recognized as an LGBTQ pride symbol.
The removal was described as part of a broader effort by Florida state authorities to eliminate what they termed 'political banners' from public roads, indicating a state-level directive rather than a local decision.
Orlando city officials, including Mayor Buddy Dyer, strongly condemned the removal as a 'callous' and 'cruel political act,' emphasizing the significance of the crosswalk as a memorial and symbol for LGBTQ lives.
While several sources mention Florida state agencies' involvement, none explicitly quote Ron DeSantis as personally ordering the removal. The action aligns with policies associated with his administration, but direct attribution to an order from DeSantis himself is not documented in these reports.
One source references a recent directive from the Trump administration influencing such removals, adding complexity to the chain of command and motivations behind the action.
Therefore, while it is accurate that the rainbow crosswalk was removed under Florida state authority consistent with policies during DeSantis's governorship, stating definitively that Ron DeSantis personally ordered this specific removal overstates what is supported by available evidence.
Primary trail
Verified Sources7
Open source