Byron Donalds, Who Claimed 'More Black Families Were Together' Under Jim Crow, Teases Run for Florida Governor Following Trump Endorsement

The Florida representative and MAGA supporter who said "more Black families were together" under Jim Crow laws teased his run for governor following President Donald Trump's promise for endorsement on Thursday.

Trump praised Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) in a Truth Social post on Thursday, calling him a "TOTAL WINNER" and promising his "Complete and Total Endorsement" if he enters the race. The endorsement could make Donalds a frontrunner in the battle to succeed term-limited Governor Ron DeSantis in 2026.

"President Trump is Making America Great Again," Donalds wrote on X, where he shared Trump's endorsement, promising his commitment to working with him to "Keep Florida Great," and adding "Announcement coming soon!"

Donalds'—vetted as a possible vice-presidential pick during the 2024 election cycle—stirred controversy in June 2024 when he said that Black families stayed together and voted more conservatively "during Jim Crow." The remarks garnered criticism from Democrats, including from President Joe Biden's campaign and members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The Jim Crow era refers to the period of time where state and local laws enforced racial segregation, which began in the wake of the Civil War and was eventually overturned by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

Despite the backlash, Donalds doubled down on his statements, arguing he was highlighting historical trends in Black family structures rather than praising segregation-era policies.

As he weighs a gubernatorial bid, Donalds remains a high-profile figure in Trump's "America First" movement, with a focus on border security, Second Amendment rights and economic policy.