PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 30: Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) shakes hands with former U.S. President Donald Trump during the Moms for Liberty Joyful Warriors national summit at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown on June 30, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The self-labeled "parental rights" summit is bringing school board hopefuls from across the country where attendees will receive training and hear from Republican presidential candidates which include former U.S. President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. The summit, which is being held in an overwhelmingly Democratic Philadelphia, has drawn protestors since the event was announced due to their pushing of book bans accusing schools of ideological overreach, including teaching about race, gender, and sexuality. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Right-wing Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Florida) is on Donald Trump‘s shortlist as a potential vice presidential pick.
Donald is said to be one of Trump’s most trusted surrogates and has been a loyalist of the former president.
However, old posts from Donalds’ Facebook page show the representative criticizing Trump. In 2011, one of Donalds’ posts says, “Trump won’t run. Thank God!” The post referenced Trump’s decision not to run against former President Barack Obama.
Other posts of Donalds directly attacking Trump on social media and in interviews from 2011 to 2012. Donalds was a Tea Party member and ran for Congress at the time. Donalds called out Trump’s trade policies and his birtherism conspiracy theory about Obama.
In the past, Donalds supported the privatization of programs such as Social Security and Medicare, calling them “vouchers.”
In April 2011, Donalds wrote, “Trump is a huge distraction and cares more about himself than the country in my opinion, but I could care less about him. I don’t question his religion or his citizenship.”
A spokesperson for Donalds has since defended him in a statement to CNN.
“President Trump is considering Byron as his running mate because of the Congressman’s steadfast support for the 45th president and his historic policy agenda. The fact that these decade-old posts are now resurfacing in the middle of running mate deliberations is weak but typical of CNN.”
Other potential VP picks have criticized Trump in the past. Former Fox host Tucker Carlson, who was said to be “on the table” as a possible VP pick, said in private texts, “I hate [Trump] passionately.” Carlson then said he was “flattered” by the idea of running alongside Trump.
The ex-president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., has voiced support for Carlson and Vivek Ramaswamy.
Despite his previous criticism of Trump, Donalds has been considered a strong supporter of the former president. Since 2020, Donalds has seemingly aligned himself with Trump’s agendas and policies. On his website, Donalds advertises himself as “A Trump-supporting, liberty-loving, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment black man.”
Donalds also endorsed Trump over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), with whom Donalds was previously aligned. DeSantis’ team was reportedly shocked by Donalds’ decision.
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