As President Trump’s approval ratings face pressure during the critical phase of the midterm election cycle, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. Bryon Donalds of Florida has made notable adjustments to his campaign’s digital presence, scaling back prominent references to the president.
When Donalds officially launched his bid for Florida governor on Fox News in February 2025, he publicly celebrated receiving the “full endorsement of President Trump.” At that time, his campaign website prominently branded him as a “Trump-Endorsed Proven Conservative Fighter.”
According to a report by ABC News, the website was updated this week to feature video content of Donalds campaigning alongside his family and supporters. Under the revised layout, the presidential endorsement is now listed among a rotation of other notable Republican figures rather than serving as a central headline.
The homepage has also been stripped of a photograph showing Donalds and his wife posing with Trump, as well as a policy section that previously stated Donalds was committed to implementing the president’s “Make America Great Again” agenda at the state and national levels.
Commenting on the modifications, Donalds shared an updated image of his endorsements page, stating, “I am proud to have President Trump’s endorsement.” He further directed public attention toward his legislative agenda, adding, “While everyone is focused on our website, check out our policy proposals to make life more affordable for Floridians.”
Aides described the changes as a reflection of the candidate’s focus on local concerns such as cost of living and insurance rates. Gates McGavick, a spokesperson for Donalds, told ABC News, “Our campaign website reflects Byron’s focus on the issues that matter most to Floridians — affordability, insurance costs, and government transparency. He’s running to be the next Governor of Florida, is proud to have President Trump’s endorsement, and has real policy proposals to tackle those issues.”
These adjustments mirror a broader trend among Republican candidates who are seeking to distance themselves from the president due to voter dissatisfaction regarding the ongoing conflict in Iran and rising fuel prices.
Despite the visual changes to his website, Donalds maintains a strong public alignment with the administration. Earlier this month, he took the stage at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas, where he helped promote Trump and the party’s legislative record to attendees.
Funny how ‘focus on local issues’ suddenly means erasing the person who put you in office. Sure, Bryon, sure.
I just want to know if his policy proposals on insurance are actually good. Stop playing with optics and tell us what you’ll do.
Does anyone else find this whole website overhaul weirdly obvious? Usually campaigns just quietly remove things without making a spectacle.
Wait, so he’s distancing himself online but still promoting Trump at rallies? The hypocrisy is honestly impressive.
Smart political calculus. Riding the coattails until they start fraying, then quietly detaching. Classic Florida maneuver.