Trump Heads to Florida Amid Internal Party Friction Over Controversial Attack Ad

Donald Trump is traveling to Florida today for a campaign rally intended to bolster gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, though the appearance comes at a time of visible tension between the former president and some of his allies. The visit highlights a curious dynamic in the race for governor, as Donalds has notably scrubbed references to Trump from his official website and has remained largely silent regarding the former president throughout his campaign.

The trip follows a wave of backlash surrounding an aggressive attack ad run by Vivek Ramaswamy targeting Democratic rival Dr. Amy Acton. The advertisement focuses on a deeply personal family tragedy involving Acton’s mother, sparking widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. Despite the outcry, Trump doubled down on the strategy during a recent stop in Iowa, admitting he personally encouraged Ramaswamy to continue airing the spot and urging him to ride with it.

This stance has placed Trump at odds with members of his own party who view the tactic as crossing a moral line. Ashley Hinson, a Republican Senate candidate in Iowa, publicly broke ranks with the president to denounce the advertisement as absolutely terrible, calling for its immediate removal. As the midterm elections approach, this internal rift suggests a growing discomfort within certain wings of the GOP over the increasingly personal nature of current campaign strategies.