What to know about Andrew and Tristan Tate as they return to the U.S.

• The brothers, with millions of social media followers between them, have gained prominence in U.S. right-wing circles.
• The Tates "feel secure in America for several reasons, the primary one being that Donald Trump is the President. As a result, they are excited to call America their home again," their U.S. lawyer Joseph McBride said in a statement provided to Axios.

Who are the Tate brothers?

Andrew Tate, 38, is the more famous of the two brothers, having risen to fame on the British reality TV show Big Brother in 2016.

• Before their legal troubles began, both brothers sparked controversy for their statements about women.
• Both brothers have expressed support for President Trump and have appeared on podcasts with other pro-Trump right-wing influencers, like Charlie Kirk.

Zoom in: Andrew Tate has dubbed himself as "absolutely a misogynist," compared women to dogs, and called women "intrinsically lazy."

• After an ex-girlfriend accused him of hitting her — which he denied — he called her a "dumb hoe."

What are the legal cases they're facing?

The two brothers were arrested in Romania in 2022 and subsequently charged with rape, human trafficking, money laundering and starting an organized crime group.

• Both have denied wrongdoing in the case, but they were placed under a travel ban that barred them from leaving Romania.
• In Aug. 2024, the brothers were detained alongside four other people as part of an investigation into human trafficking, forming an organized criminal group, trafficking of minors, money laundering and sexual intercourse with a minor, Reuters reported.
• Andrew Tate was then placed under house arrest, which was lifted last month.
• The brothers also face separate, unrelated charges of rape and human trafficking in the U.K., which they likewise deny, per the BBC.

State of play: The travel ban on the brothers was lifted this week, allowing them to leave Romania, though they will have to return to the country next month due to ongoing legal obligations, per Reuters.

What do we know about their return to the U.S.?

The Tates boarded a private jet bound for Southern Florida on Thursday, and are expected to arrive later in the day, McBride told the New York Times.

• DIICOT, Romania's anti-organized crime agency, said in a statement Thursday that Romanian prosecutors had approved a request to lift the Tates' travel ban, but didn't specify who had made the request, AP reported.

What they're saying: The Tates have been the target of "legal persecution" and have maintained that the accusations against them are "both defamatory and unequivocally false," McBride said in the statement to Axios.

Where does the Trump administration fit in?

The Tates' return to the U.S. has raised questions about what role the Trump administration may have played in the latest developments.

• The Financial Times reported earlier this month that Trump administration officials, including special envoy Richard Grenell, had discussed the Tates' case with Romanian officials. An unnamed source told the outlet a request had been made to return the brothers' passports to them.
• Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu denied in an X post earlier this month that the U.S. had made any requests regarding "well-known foreign influencers" being investigated by Romanian authorities.
• The White House did not respond to Axios' request for comment on the record, but when asked about the Tate brothers during a press briefing Thursday, President Trump said: "I know nothing about that."

Zoom out: The Tates' arrival in Florida garnered pushback among some GOP figures.

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Thursday that his office had "no involvement" in the Tates' return, describing it as a matter of federal jurisdiction.
• "Florida is not a place where ... you're welcome with that type of conduct," he added.

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