# Donalds Scrubs Trump Mentions as GOP Nominee Distances Amid Low Approval

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/donalds-scrubs-trump-mentions-as-gop-nominee-distances-amid-low-approval
- Published: 2026-09-23T07:12:23.679137+00:00
- Topics: florida-governor-race, trump-endorsement, republican-party, midterm-elections-2026

## What the left says
- Trump's approval rating has fallen below 30%, and voters are increasingly frustrated over the Iran war and rising gas and diesel prices, making his endorsement a growing political liability.
- Donalds joins a pattern of Republicans, including María Elvira Salazar, quietly retreating from Trump branding once it becomes electorally inconvenient rather than out of genuine policy disagreement.
- Independent election forecasters have shifted the Florida governor's race from 'likely Republican' to 'leans Republican,' reflecting a tightening contest that suggests Trump's brand may hurt down-ballot candidates.
- Donalds' public claim that he remains 'proud' of Trump's endorsement, while simultaneously scrubbing photos and banners referencing Trump from his site, reveals an attempt to have it both ways with voters.

## What the right says
- Donalds' campaign insists the website redesign reflects a focus on policy issues like affordability for Floridians, not a rejection of Trump or his endorsement.
- Donalds continues to publicly affirm he is proud of Trump's endorsement and recently appeared on stage at the GOP midterm convention supporting the party's legislative record alongside Trump.
- Routine website updates and redesigns are common in campaigns and shouldn't be read as a coded political statement about a candidate's loyalty.
- Focusing on kitchen-table concerns like cost of living is a legitimate campaign strategy rather than evidence of distancing from the president.

## Common ground
- Donalds' campaign website was updated this week, removing multiple explicit mentions of Trump and a photo of Donalds with the president.
- Trump's approval rating has dropped, and rising gas and diesel prices along with the Iran war are contributing factors to voter dissatisfaction.
- Donalds has publicly stated he remains proud to have Trump's endorsement despite the website changes.
- The Florida governor's race has tightened, with at least one major election forecaster shifting its rating in a less favorable direction for Republicans.

## Sources
- [ABC News](https://abcnews.com/Politics/donalds-downplays-trump-connection-governor-campaign-website/story?id=136666550) (Lean Left)
- [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/byron-donalds-david-jolly-donald-trump/2026/09/22/id/1270325) (Right)
- [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/22/florida-republican-byron-donalds-donald-trump) (Left)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6104961-donalds-removes-trump-mentions/) (Center)
- [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2026/09/22/byron-donalds-removes-trump-mentions-florida-governor-campaign-website/) (Lean Left)

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