Florida GOP candidate Byron Donalds downplays Trump ties as approval ratings fall

Key points

• Donalds removed prominent Trump endorsements and a photo from his website, replacing them with a focus on affordability and policy.
• The changes were first reported by the Miami Herald and drew nationwide attention, generating speculation about Donalds' relationship with Trump.
• Donalds stated the changes were meant to reinforce the campaign's key policy themes ahead of the general election, including affordability.
• The shift reflects a broader trend among Republicans distancing themselves from the unpopular president ahead of the November general election.
• Donalds' opponent, Democratic nominee David Jolly, also appeared at the Sunshine Economy Summit, where he was interviewed by Tom Hudson of WLRN.

Background

Byron Donalds, a staunch Trump ally, endorsed Trump over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 GOP primary. Trump endorsed Donalds last year, shortly before he formally launched his campaign. Donalds' status as a staunch Trump ally was difficult to miss, with his campaign website noting several times that Donalds was endorsed by Mr. Trump and featuring a photo of the president and the congressman giving thumbs-up signs to the camera. The changes come as Trump's approval ratings hit lows in the final stretch of the midterm campaign season, and some Republicans are taking steps to distance themselves from Trump amid voters' frustrations with the Iran war and rising gas and diesel prices.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News and ABC News report that Donalds has significantly reduced references to Trump on his campaign website, replacing prominent endorsements and photos with a focus on affordability and policy. The Washington Post notes that Donalds is the latest Republican to strip some mentions of the increasingly unpopular president from his campaign site ahead of the November general election. CNN's article is not available, but the other sources suggest that the changes reflect a broader trend among Republicans distancing themselves from the unpopular president. Donalds maintains that he still supports the president's agenda, but the shift has generated speculation about his relationship with Trump.

Why it matters

The changes to Donalds' campaign website reflect a broader trend among Republicans distancing themselves from the unpopular president ahead of the November general election. The shift could have implications for the Florida governor race, as Donalds' opponent, Democratic nominee David Jolly, has been positioning himself as a moderate alternative to Donalds. The changes also highlight the challenges facing Republicans in the 2026 midterms, as they seek to distance themselves from an unpopular president while still maintaining their support for his agenda.

What to watch

Donalds' campaign will continue to focus on affordability and policy in the lead-up to the November general election. The changes to his campaign website could have implications for the Florida governor race, as Donalds' opponent, Democratic nominee David Jolly, has been positioning himself as a moderate alternative to Donalds. The broader trend among Republicans distancing themselves from the unpopular president could have implications for the 2026 midterms, as they seek to distance themselves from an unpopular president while still maintaining their support for his agenda.