Florida Republican Byron Donalds Distances Himself From Trump 2026

Byron Donalds, the Republican nominee for Florida governor, has distanced himself from Donald Trump by scrubbing nearly all mentions of the president from his campaign website. The move, first reported by the Miami Herald, comes just days after another Florida Republican, María Elvira Salazar, criticized Trump's immigration-enforcement policy targeting law-abiding undocumented immigrants. With Trump's approval rating falling below 30% for the first time, the retreat signals growing anxiety among Republicans ahead of November's midterm elections.

Byron Donalds Removes Trump from Campaign Website

According to the Miami Herald, Donalds launched an updated campaign website on Tuesday that was stripped of almost every mention of Trump. The site also removed a photograph of Donalds and his wife, Erika, posing with the president. The changes were tracked by Visualping, a website monitoring service, which recorded at least eight removals of Trump's name from the homepage alone. Previously, Donalds proudly described himself as a "Trump-endorsed proven conservative fighter" and displayed a large banner advertising the president's support.

A Stark Reversal from Primary Campaign

Until now, Donalds had built his Republican primary campaign almost entirely around Trump's endorsement. His website prominently featured the president's backing, and Donalds frequently touted his close ties with Trump on the trail. The sudden removal of those references marks a dramatic shift for a candidate who once leaned heavily on Trump's popularity within the GOP base.

Trump's Falling Approval and Republican Midterm Fears

The timing of Donalds' pivot is no coincidence. Trump's overall approval rating has dropped below 30% for the first time, dragged down by widespread dissatisfaction over his handling of the US economy and the ongoing Iran war. Republicans are now bracing for heavy losses in November, including the possible loss of their majorities in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate.

Florida Republicans Break Ranks

Donalds is not alone. Days earlier, Representative María Elvira Salazar publicly called out Trump's immigration-enforcement policy, which she said targets law-abiding undocumented immigrants. Her criticism, followed by Donalds' website overhaul, suggests a coordinated effort by Florida Republicans to create distance from an increasingly unpopular president. The background to this story is set out in Most Americans Say Trump Uses Presidency to Enrich Himself, Poll Finds.

Comparing the Shift: Before and After Donalds' Website

Key Takeaways for the 2026 Midterms

• Byron Donalds removed at least eight Trump mentions from his campaign website.
• Trump's approval rating has fallen below 30% for the first time.
• Republicans fear losing their House and Senate majorities in November.
• Other Florida Republicans, like María Elvira Salazar, have also criticized Trump.
• The shift highlights Trump's weakening influence in key swing states.

FAQ

Best Products We’ve Tested and Rated

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of travel bag, gift ideas, tee gifts tournaments, overhead launch monitor, and lead acid cart batteries. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of hitting strip simulator, mats simulators, accessories seniors, budget hitting mat, and affordable mat. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.