Senator Mike Rounds removed President Trump’s name from his campaign website. This happened just weeks before the election in South Dakota. An older version of the site reviewed by Fox News showed the changes. The removal came as new poll numbers showed a sharp drop for the senator.
Two mentions of the president were on the homepage. One said “Endorsed by President Trump.” Another featured a photo of Rounds touting the support. Both are gone now. The president’s name also disappeared from the “Issues” page. It was previously listed in the “Put America First” and “Education” sections.
The campaign admits some mentions remain. Rob Skjonsberg, a campaign advisor, spoke to Fox News Digital. He noted that not every reference has been taken down. “The president’s endorsement is still front and center on the website in Mike’s announcement video,” Skjonsberg said. He added that focusing on general election messages is common practice.
Trump had endorsed Rounds last year. Calling the lawmaker an “incredibly strong advocate for the wonderful people of South Dakota, a State I love, and WON BIG, in 2016, 2020, and 2024,” the president also posted on Truth Social that “Mike Rounds has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN.”
Recent polls show trouble for the president. A Fox News poll last month found a 39% approval rating. Voters cited the cost of living and fuel prices as major problems. The ongoing war in Iran was also a sticking point for participants. These issues seem to be hurting the Republican ticket in some areas.
Rounds faces independent Brian Bengs in the race. Bengs previously ran as a Democrat against Senator John Thune. Thune beat Bengs easily in 2022 with over 70% of the vote. Bengs told Fox News Digital he is not running against the president. He argued the website changes happened only after Rounds’ poll numbers fell. Bengs suggested big money allies are buying ads to help the senator.
While the South Dakota site changed, Trump kept rallying in Ohio. He spoke in Youngstown alongside Senator Jon Husted. The president joked about Husted’s time as a college football star. “I don’t do this with men very often,” Trump told the crowd. “I started examining his body because I didn’t know he was a great athlete.”
“And I looked and I watched up and down,” he continued. “I looked at his ass, and I looked at the whole –” The crowd laughed at the comment. Trump also brought up Jake Paul and Jon Gruden. According to his forecast, Paul will seek political office in the not too distant future. Husted is locked in a tight race against Democrat Sherrod Brown.
The president warned that Ohio could be “destroyed like Minnesota” under Democrats. This contrast shows a president still fighting hard in some states while allies adjust in others.
