MIAMI - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday brushed off a lawsuit against him by Walt Disney Co, describing it as politically motivated.

He also accused the company of lacking accountability and transparency.

Speaking in Jerusalem during an international tour aimed at burnishing his foreign policy credentials before an expected presidential bid, Mr DeSantis hailed Israel as “one of the most valued and trusted” allies of the United States.

But he faced questions on the lawsuit filed against him by Disney.

The company has accused his administration of “weaponising its power to inflict political punishment” in a dispute over special provisions for the Disney World theme park in central Florida.

“I don’t think the suit has merit – I think it’s political,” Mr DeSantis told reporters at a news conference.

Mr DeSantis is expected to challenge former president Donald Trump for the Republican nomination.

The Florida governor has been embroiled in a row with Disney over a state measure banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with young children.

The state has passed legislation ending the special conditions that gave Disney virtual autonomy in the Florida district where Disney World is located, and where it attracts millions of visitors every year.

“They had no transparency, no accountability, none of that, and that arrangement was not good for the state of Florida,” Mr DeSantis said. “We did not think that that should continue, so we now have brought accountability,” he said.

Disney, which has criticised the Florida classroom measure, says the state government has illegally punished it for voicing an opinion that should be protected by free-speech rights.

The company employs roughly 75,000 people in Florida.

The tussle could boost Mr DeSantis’ support among US Republican voters, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found, but also hurt him among the wider electorate.

Seventy-three per cent of respondents – including 82 per cent of Democrats and 63 per cent of Republicans – said they were less likely to support a political candidate who backs laws designed to punish a company for its political or cultural stances. REUTERS