GOP Candidates Quietly Scrub Trump's Image from Campaign Websites
Several Republican candidates have removed prominent references to President Trump from their online presences as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has significantly reduced the presence of President Trump on his campaign website, joining a growing number of Republican candidates who are downplaying imagery and explicit references to the former president. This shift comes as the 2026 midterm elections draw closer, prompting a strategic adjustment in how candidates present themselves online.
Donalds' campaign website, which previously featured a large Trump endorsement banner and prominent photos of the two men, has undergone a noticeable revision. While Trump's endorsement has not been entirely removed, it is no longer a central feature on the homepage. Gates McGavick, communications director for the Donalds campaign, described the reporting on the diminished presence as "FAKE NEWS," stating that the revamped site is intended to emphasize Donalds' focus on affordability, insurance costs, and government transparency. McGavick added that Donalds remains proud of Trump's endorsement.
This trend is not isolated to Florida. Across various competitive Republican races, candidates have made similar changes after securing their nominations. In Kentucky, Ralph Alvarado removed prominent Trump imagery and altered the description of his campaign from 'America First Fighter' to 'Independent Leadership.' Similarly, in Florida, Mike Beltran reduced several prominent Trump references on his website, shifting the focus from loyalty to the former president to issues like the cost of living, taxes, and healthcare.
Similar adjustments have been observed in Michigan, Iowa, Texas, and California. Mike Bouchard removed a prominent Trump endorsement banner from his Michigan campaign homepage, though the endorsement remains listed elsewhere on the site. Iowa Republican Joe Mitchell removed some explicitly pro-Trump language, while Texas candidate Carlos De La Cruz dropped 'Trump Conservative' from his campaign description. In California, Young Kim removed references to Trump and 'America First' from prominent sections of her website, and James Gallagher removed Trump's endorsement and photograph from his campaign site.
The campaigns generally argue that these changes reflect a transition from the primary election, where Trump's endorsement can be crucial for winning the nomination, to the general election, where candidates aim to highlight local issues and their individual records. These candidates have not necessarily rejected Trump or his policies, but are instead strategically adjusting the prominence of his branding in their public-facing digital platforms.