This was unexpected.
Rep. Byron Donalds, one of President Donald Trump’s best-known Republican allies, has revamped his Florida gubernatorial campaign website — and some of the most prominent references to Trump are no longer there.
The change comes as Donalds prepares for the 2026 Florida governor’s race and puts greater emphasis on pocketbook issues such as affordability, insurance costs and government transparency.
Trump’s endorsement has not disappeared entirely. But compared with an earlier version of the site, the president now occupies a noticeably less prominent position.
Trump Branding Gets Scaled Back
An archived version of Donalds’ campaign website featured Trump prominently near the top of the page.
Visitors were greeted with fundraising language identifying Donalds as “Trump Endorsed,” while another section farther down the page highlighted Trump’s endorsement alongside a photograph of the president.
Following a redesign, much of that prominent Trump-focused material is gone.
Trump’s endorsement remains on the website, but it now appears alongside endorsements from other high-profile figures, including Sen. Ted Cruz, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Elon Musk.
CBS12 reported on September 22 that most references to Trump had been removed from prominent portions of the campaign website.
Donalds’ campaign, however, disputes any suggestion that the candidate is distancing himself from the president.
A campaign source told The Hill that Trump remains featured throughout the website and described the president’s endorsement as extremely valuable to Donalds.
Affordability Takes Center Stage
The website’s policy section has also undergone a noticeable change.
Previously, “Enact the Trump Agenda” was displayed as a leading campaign priority.
The redesigned version instead puts affordability at the forefront, reflecting growing concern among voters about household expenses, insurance premiums and other everyday costs.
Donalds’ campaign said the website is intended to reflect the issues the candidate believes matter most to Florida residents.
A spokesperson said Donalds remains proud to have Trump’s endorsement while emphasizing proposals involving affordability, insurance costs and government transparency.
That distinction is important: the website changes do not amount to Donalds rejecting Trump or abandoning the president’s endorsement.
Instead, the campaign has shifted the presentation of its message toward Florida-specific issues while reducing Trump’s visibility in several prominent areas of the site.
Political Climate Adds New Attention
The timing of the redesign is drawing additional scrutiny because Republicans are heading into the November midterm elections amid challenging national polling.
The Economist/YouGov poll released September 22 found that 34% of U.S. adult citizens approved of Trump’s job performance while 61% disapproved.
The same survey showed Democratic congressional candidates leading Republican candidates among likely voters nationally, although nationwide congressional polling does not determine the outcome of individual House, Senate or gubernatorial races.
For Republican candidates, economic concerns have also become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Gas Prices Put Pressure on Household Budgets
The national average price for regular gasoline stood at approximately $4.48 per gallon on September 22, according to AAA.
AAA reported earlier in September that the national average had jumped 13 cents in one week as crude-oil prices climbed and instability surrounding the Strait of Hormuz continued to affect energy markets.
The strait is one of the world’s most important routes for energy shipments, making disruptions there significant for global oil markets.
Reuters reported September 22 that oil prices remained under pressure amid uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict and negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Those economic pressures help explain why affordability has become an increasingly prominent campaign theme.
Other Republicans Focus on Rising Costs
Donalds is not alone in emphasizing the financial impact of higher energy costs.
Republican candidates in other states have also spoken publicly about the effect of the Iran conflict and energy prices on American households.
The broader shift illustrates how economic issues are playing an increasingly visible role in Republican campaign messaging as voters prepare for the midterms.
At the same time, Trump continues to maintain substantial influence within Republican politics, and Donalds continues to publicly embrace the president’s endorsement.
What Actually Changed
The most accurate description of Donalds’ website redesign is not that Trump has disappeared.
He has not.
Instead, the campaign has reduced some of the president’s most prominent branding and elevated issues such as affordability, insurance costs and government accountability.
That makes the website substantially different from its earlier version, when Trump’s endorsement was one of the first messages visitors encountered.
Donalds continues to identify himself with Trump’s support, but his campaign website now places greater emphasis on the issues he wants Florida voters to associate directly with his bid for governor.
With the November election approaching, the redesign offers a clear look at how Donalds is choosing to present his campaign during the final stretch of the race.