Central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a “massive threat” to liberty, Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis is convinced. During an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, DeSantis vowed to send CBDC “to the ash heap of history” if he is elected President of the United States.

DeSantis Tells Carlson CBDC is ‘Not Happening’ in America With Him as President

Presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis reaffirmed his stance against the introduction of a central bank-issued digital currency such as a digital version of the U.S. dollar. Speaking with conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson on Friday, the candidate for the White House stated:

If I am the president, on Day 1, we will nix central bank digital currency. Done, dead, not happening in this country.

DeSantis pointed out that the U.S. Federal Reserve has been talking about CBDC and warned that the Fed may try to take unilateral steps in that direction. He doubted that the U.S. Congress would pass a bill allowing the central bank to issue a digital currency.

The governor reminded that Florida adopted legislation banning the use of CBDCs within the state which he signed into law in May, citing potential risks associated with CBDCs as well as concerns over privacy invasion and centralized control of financial transactions.

“I think other states are probably going to follow suit. That will jam their ability to do it through executive action,” DeSantis said when he was interviewed among other GOP presidential primary candidates during a conference organized by the conservative Christian organization The Family Leader.

“They want to get rid of cash, they want no cryptocurrency and they want this [CBDC] to be the sole form of legal tender, and they have said this publicly at like Davos and these other places. It will allow them to prohibit ‘undesirable purchases like fuel and ammunition,’” the governor detailed.

DeSantis further elaborated that “the minute you give them the power to do this, they are going to impose a social credit system on this country” and stated:

CBDC is a massive threat to American liberty. On Jan. 20, 2025, it goes to the ash heap of history in this country.

Before his election as Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis represented the Sunshine State’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives between 2013 and 2018. He announced his bid for President of the United States on May 24, 2023. DeSantis has promised to protect people’s rights to use bitcoin, attracting positive reactions from the crypto community.

Do you agree with Ron DeSantis on central bank digital currencies? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.