President Donald Trump isn’t holding back on who he wants to see as Florida’s next governor.
"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 social media post Thursday.
The former president made it clear—Donalds would be a "truly Great and Powerful Governor for Florida."
Trump didn’t stop there. "Should he decide to run, he will have my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, BYRON, RUN!" he declared.
Donalds, a conservative congressman from southwest Florida, has been eyeing a run for nearly a year.
"I’ve thought about it. I don’t really rule anything out," Donalds said in a Fox News Digital interview last spring.
Sources told Fox News last month that Donalds has been telling donors and political insiders he plans to run.
Another big sign? Donalds recently hired Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio’s research firm. Fabrizio was a key figure in Trump’s 2016 and 2024 campaigns.
Behind the scenes, Donalds is still making moves. Florida political sources say he’s taking steps toward an official campaign.
After Trump’s social media post, Donalds responded on X. "President Trump is Making America Great Again. I'm committed to working with him to Keep Florida Great. Announcement coming soon!"
A source close to Donalds told Fox News he has been aggressively seeking Trump’s endorsement. The goal? To push out potential GOP rivals.
One of those possible rivals is state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a former Florida Senate president.
There’s also speculation about Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife. A recent poll showed she’d be a strong contender if she ran.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz was once seen as a possible candidate. He had Trump’s support for attorney general but later backed off. Lately, there’s been little talk of a Gaetz campaign.
Trump’s backing of Donalds could shake up the race. His influence might discourage Casey DeSantis and make Simpson think twice before jumping in.
Dan Eberhart, a major GOP donor and Trump supporter, praised Donalds. "He would bring a fresh conservative vision for Florida's future that will be hard to beat," he told Fox News.
This was Trump’s second social media boost for Donalds in a week.
On Monday, Trump shared a poll showing Donalds leading in a potential 2026 GOP primary.
Trump has been hyping Donalds for over a year. At a private fundraiser last spring, he hinted Donalds would have "many friends in the race."
Donalds appreciated the support. "It’s really cool that people back home in Florida consider me to be able to be the state’s next governor," he said. "It’s really an honor. It’s honestly surreal thinking about it because I’m 45 and my journey through politics has been a really fruitful one."
Florida was once a swing state. Now, it’s solidly red. Whoever wins the GOP primary will likely be the next governor.