Scoop: Trump Jr. backs Donalds for Fla. governor in MAGA squeeze play
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Donald Trump, then the Republican presidential nominee, with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Donald Trump Jr. at the GOP convention last July. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Donald Trump Jr. is endorsing Rep. Byron Donalds for Florida governor, following in his father's footsteps and cementing Donalds as the frontrunner over possible contender Casey DeSantis, the state's first lady.
Why it matters: The move by Trump Jr. — a key player in MAGA media — comes after a presidential race in which Donalds was a constant pro-Trump presence on the campaign trail.
- Florida's 2026 race is loaded with potential intrigue: It's likely to be a show of the Trump machine's power in Florida, where DeSantis' husband, Ron, is the term-limited governor who briefly was Donald Trump's rival in the 2024 GOP primary.
Zoom in: Trump Jr., 47, hosts an influential podcast, "Triggered," a GenX pillar of MAGA's media universe. He's a trusted political adviser to his dad.
- President Trump pre-endorsed Donalds five days before the congressman's Feb. 25 announcement on Sean Hannity's show on Fox News.
- Donalds' campaign is run by Trump campaign vets: Tony Fabrizio (pollster for both Trump and Donalds), Danielle Alvarez (senior adviser for both campaigns), and adviser Ryan Smith (consultant for the pro-Trump MAGA Inc. super PAC in 2024).
By the numbers: A recent Fabrizio poll of likely GOP primary voters in Florida showed Donalds with a small lead over Casey DeSantis, 34%-30%.
- After they were told the governor would endorse his wife, she marginally led Donalds. But the Trump effect was bigger: When respondents were told about Trump's endorsement, Donalds' lead over DeSantis grew to 45%-23%.
The bottom line: Donalds led Casey DeSantis 38%-28% when voters were informed of both endorsements — an indication that Trump's endorsement had more sway that Ron DeSantis'.
- The poll also showed that Vice President Vance would beat Ron DeSantis in a hypothetical 2028 presidential primary by 14 percentage points.
- And as Axios first reported, the same poll indicated former Rep. Matt Gaetz would have a big lead in a hypothetical matchup against Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, Gov. DeSantis' former chief of staff.
The big picture: During the past week, the Donalds campaign strategically leaked the poll results to send a message: Florida is Trump Country, and the DeSantis stewardship in Tallahassee has a 2026 expiration date.
- Registered Republicans vastly outnumber registered Democrats in Florida, so the victors in statewide GOP primaries are heavy favorites to win office.
What they're saying: "My friend Byron Donalds is a great patriot and has my full endorsement to serve as Florida's next governor," Trump Jr. said in a statement provided first to Axios.
- "Byron is a fighter and a true champion for our America First movement. He will be a great leader for Florida and he will fight alongside my father to make America greater than ever before!"
Flashback: President Trump and Ron DeSantis had a falling out after the governor decided to run against him for president in 2024.
- DeSantis quickly made amends after he was walloped in Iowa, but his annoyance with Donalds (who endorsed Trump early on over the governor) erupted the day before Donalds announced his bid for governor.
- "You got a guy like Byron, he just hasn't been a part of any of the victories that we've had here over the left over these last years. He's just not been a part of it," DeSantis said at press conference.
- Said a DeSantis confidant: "If Byron thinks all this will scare Casey out of the race, it's not going to work. It might have the opposite effect."
Trump calls DeSantis for advice on occasion and likes golfing with the governor.
- To try to keep Trump on the sidelines in the governor's race, Ron and Casey DeSantis golfed with Trump two weekends ago at the president's West Palm Beach course.
- It's unclear what promises, if any, Trump made.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to remove a reference to former Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita, who is not a senior adviser to Rep. Byron Donalds.
