By Katherine Tinsley
1:46am PDT, Mar 14, 2025
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In a statement, Donald Trump Jr. praised Byron Donalds' contributions to the state.
"My friend Byron Donalds is a great patriot and has my full endorsement to serve as Florida's next governor," Trump said.
"Byron is a fighter and a true champion for our America First movement," he continued, as Donalds advocated for the "Make America Great Again" campaign. "He will be a great leader for Florida and he will fight alongside my father to make America greater than ever before!"
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Donald Trump Jr. seemingly stopped supporting Ron DeSantis after the governor ran against his father, Donald Trump, in the 2024 presidential election.
"Who thinks it's acceptable for men to be wearing high heels while running for the Republican nomination? Anyone?" the eldest of the Trump children asked during the 2024 Iowa Caucus.
"And here's the thing — no one cares if he's short. No one cares. No one cares if you're short," he continued. "You know what they care about — that you're so insecure about it that you have to overcompensate."
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Donald Trump Jr. later hinted at Ron DeSantis' height contributing to global feuds.
"That's the kind of stuff that gets us into wars, right? It's that kind of insecurity that you do get pushed into doing stuff that's probably not right for the will of the people," he alleged.
"And that's what we see from so many of the RINOS in Washington, D.C., right now," he claimed.
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President Donald Trump also shared his support of Byron Donalds.
"I am hearing that Highly Respected Congressman Byron Donalds is considering running for Governor of Florida, a State that I love, and WON BIG in 2016, 2020, and 2024," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on February 20.
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Five days after Donald Trump pledged his allegiance to Byron Donalds, the congressman announced his plans to run for governor in 2026 during a Fox News appearance.
"Byron Donalds would be a truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida and, should he decide to run, will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!" the president added.
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Byron Donalds met with Sean Hannity on Fox News to discuss his political future.
"Sean, we have a wonderful state," Donalds said. "I got to Florida when I was 17 years old, off of a Greyhound bus with just a trunk full of clothes. And over the rest of my time in Florida, I built a family, I built a career. … I was able to serve four years in a state legislature, four years in Congress."
"And I think now is the time to now take the mantle and lead our state into the future," he admitted.
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Despite competing for his role, Byron Donalds spoke highly of Ron DeSantis.
"We have a great governor. Ron DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state," Donalds shared.
"But now the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country. And so that's going to be the mission at hand," he stressed. "And I'm excited to announce my candidacy with you tonight."
