Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Zorro

(18,397 posts)
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 10:14 AM 7 hrs ago

Florida bans nurse who made comments about Trump's press secretary

A Florida labor and delivery nurse is banned from working in Florida following an expletive-filled social media post wishing President Donald Trump’s pregnant press secretary a painful child birth.

Effective immediately Lexie Lawler is no longer allowed to work as a nurse in the state, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday on social media. Lawler was fired from Baptist Health Boca Raton Regional Hospital earlier this month following a TikTok post about Karoline Leavitt.

“Making statements that wish pain and suffering on anyone, when those statements are directly related to one's practice, is an ethical red line we should not cross,” Uthmeier posted on social media.

A GoFundMe account set up to help Lawler with “employment and civil rights counsel” had raised a little more than $12,000 as of Jan. 29.

“When the Attorney General and Surgeon General of Florida involve themselves in matters affecting a single private citizen, that represents an extraordinary level of state involvement.,” according to the GoFundMe account. “Lexie did not commit malpractice, harm a patient, or have any prior complaints. She has ten years of nursing with zero disciplinary history. She spoke off the clock, as a private citizen. Following that speech, she lost her job, and the state is now moving to take her nursing license. We are now fighting not just for her livelihood, but for the principle that professional licenses should not be used in ways that chill or deter lawful speech.”

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2026/01/29/florida-nurse-cant-work-in-state-after-comments-about-trumps-press-secretary-lexie-leavitt-boca/88411774007/

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Florida bans nurse who made comments about Trump's press secretary (Original Post) Zorro 7 hrs ago OP
Lawsuit incoming Coldwater 7 hrs ago #1
link to her gofund below Shellback Squid 7 hrs ago #2
I don't know what this nurse said, I cannot read the article, Americanme 6 hrs ago #3
No! Ray Bruns 6 hrs ago #4
So much for freedom of speech in Florida. Buddyzbuddy 3 hrs ago #5

Americanme

(418 posts)
3. I don't know what this nurse said, I cannot read the article,
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 11:30 AM
6 hrs ago

but this is surely a first amendment issue, isn't it? I understand that her employer can fire her, but the state attorney general saying she can not work anywhere in the state? The government is punishing her for speech that the government doesn't like. Am I wrong about this?

Buddyzbuddy

(2,259 posts)
5. So much for freedom of speech in Florida.
Thu Jan 29, 2026, 02:20 PM
3 hrs ago

I'm sorry her license to earn a living in FL was taken away but I would take that as a reprieve and get the hell to a state that appreciates you. Bring some others with you. FL seems to have become a lost cause based on the ratio of new R registrations to D's.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Florida»Florida bans nurse who ma...