TALLAHASSEE — Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has substantially reduced references to former President Donald Trump on his campaign website, removing a prominent photo and the “Trump-endorsed” branding from the main page while leaving the endorsement listed on a separate endorsements tab.
Website overhaul comes weeks before the election
The updated version of Donalds' site went live Tuesday and eliminates much of the material that tied the candidate explicitly to Trump, according to archived snapshots of the campaign pages that show the earlier layout. While a dedicated endorsements page still displays Trump’s backing, the campaign's landing page no longer touts the former president’s support in its primary messaging.
Donalds received Trump’s endorsement shortly after announcing his run for governor this year. At the time, the candidate publicly said he was committed to working with Trump “to Keep Florida Great.” The endorsement was posted by Trump on his social platform in May, describing Donalds as a partner for what Trump called his “America First Agenda.”
"As Governor, Byron will have a BIG Voice, and work closely with me to advance our America First Agenda," Trump wrote, listing priorities he said would include border security, immigration, the military, veterans, energy, taxes, manufacturing and gun rights.
Political signaling and public opinion
Campaign consultants and political operatives often reshuffle public-facing branding to respond to shifting public sentiment and polling. A recent American Research Group poll cited by the campaign change’s reporting showed President Trump’s approval at 29% and disapproval at 68%. The move by Donalds comes amid those indicators and after at least one other Florida Republican publicly distanced herself from Trump, according to the same reporting.
Donalds' decision to de-emphasize Trump on his home page but retain the endorsement elsewhere suggests a calibrated approach: maintaining access to Trump-aligned voters while limiting the visibility of that association for voters who view the former president unfavorably.
What remains and what changed
Key points about the website update include:
- The campaign’s main landing page no longer features a photograph of Donalds with Trump.
- Material that previously described Donalds as a “Trump-endorsed Proven Conservative Fighter” has been removed from the homepage.
- Trump’s public endorsement still appears on a separate endorsements page maintained by the campaign.
The distinction between the site’s main page and the endorsements section is notable: supporters looking specifically for Trump’s backing can still find it, while casual site visitors now encounter a different visual and rhetorical presentation.
Implications for the Republican primary and general election
Florida’s gubernatorial campaign is closely watched nationally. With just over a month before ballots are cast, candidates frequently adjust strategies to navigate intra-party divisions and appeal to independent voters. By toning down the Trump association on his primary web presence, Donalds may be attempting to broaden his appeal beyond the former president’s most ardent supporters without fully alienating that bloc.
How voters interpret the change will depend on media coverage, opponent messaging and the campaign’s broader outreach — including advertising, events and debates. The presence of Trump's endorsement on the endorsements page leaves open the option for the campaign to highlight that support later if it becomes advantageous.
Timeline
| Event | Date (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Trump endorsement of Byron Donalds posted | May (reported) |
| Updated Donalds campaign website launched | Tuesday (reported) |
| ARG poll showing Trump approval/disapproval | Recent (reported) |
The reporting does not provide exact dates for the May endorsement post beyond the month, nor does it specify the precise day the recent poll was released; it notes only that the updated site was published this Tuesday and that the endorsement remains on a separate page.
What to watch next
Observers will be monitoring several developments in coming weeks:
- Whether Donalds reverses or expands the website changes.
- How rival campaigns frame the move in advertising and debates.
- Any additional endorsements or public statements from Trump or other national figures affecting the race.
With six weeks until Election Day, Donalds' website revision is part of a larger dynamic in Florida politics where candidates balance local concerns with national alliances. The change underscores how campaigns adapt public messaging to shifting political currents even as they retain the ability to emphasize prior endorsements when tactically desirable.
— Javier Castellanos, State Correspondent
