DeSantis criticizes California Democrat for saying ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ is banned in Florida

Florida Governor Responds to Claims of Banning Anne Frank’s Diary

On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis rejected assertions that the state had banned Anne Frank’s well-known diary from World War II. He clarified that the book is actually included on Florida’s recommended reading list.

This statement came after a California lawmaker from the Democratic Party suggested that “Anne Frank’s Diary” was prohibited in Florida.

“This isn’t the first time the left’s accused Florida of ‘banning’ books,” DeSantis posted on X. “Here lies another lie.”

DeSantis was in California when the controversy arose. Democrat Senator Scott Wiener shared an article from The Guardian claiming that various books were being banned nationally in 2025, including Anne Frank’s diary.

The article alleged that the book was removed from school library shelves in Florida.

“By banning Anne Frank’s diary, Florida reveals everything about the movement against these texts,” Wiener stated while sharing the article on X.

X’s Community Notes flagged the post, clarifying that the diary is part of the curriculum for eighth graders in the Florida Department of Education.

Wiener’s office provided context, indicating that he was referencing the removal of a graphic version of the diary from Florida shelves.

“Senator Wiener’s tweet relates to a documented case in the Hillsborough School District where Anne Frank’s diary, along with over 600 other titles, were removed from libraries in response to pressure from the state education department,” the office noted.

In May, the Hillsborough County School District faced potential legal action from the Florida State Board of Education if they did not eliminate what was deemed a “pornographic” title from their library.

Among the books that were taken off the shelves were “Anne Frank’s Diary” and “What Girls Are Made Of” by Elana K. Arnold.

The Guardian further reported that these titles were flagged as potentially inappropriate by local parents. Parents in the school system could even opt their children out of specific readings without removing the title for everyone.

Critics refer to DeSantis’ “custody law,” also known as the “gay law,” which prohibits classroom discussions about “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” for K-12 students.